BLINDED BY THE HUNTING

Voracity

Xander is blinded during a fight. That whole 'normal' thing is really going to bite him on the ass. Crossovers with One West Waikiki and later with the new Hawaii 5-0.

Blinded By The Hunting

Willow and Buffy were pacing outside the hospital room Xander was in.  Buffy felt guilty.  She had said that Xander could handle that one demon on his own.  Willow was backing them both up but Buffy had the harder demons - which made sense with her being the slayer and all.  Unfortunately, the books had been wrong about what the demon could do.  Nothing had said anything about acidic spit.  Or acidic sweat.  Or any other body fluid that had caught Xander and had burned him.  His face had a lot of burns.  His lips were burned.  The area on his arms that hadn't been covered were burned.  Even his legs had burned through his jeans.  The worst was his eyes.  Buffy had realized that Xander was having problems when he had screamed about the acidic whatever getting in his eyes.

That was a bad way to find out there was a problem with their battle plans.

The scream was going to haunt her for quite a while.  Maybe even past death.

The doctor came out.  "We've finished the eye wash," he told Willow, who was Xander's medical contact person.

"Is there any hope?" she begged.

"No."  The doctor shook his head.  "We saved the structure but his corneas are burned.  There's a slim chance a cornea transplant would work but I wouldn't recommend it.  There's a good possibility that whatever did that burned more and we'll see more complications later on.  Was it a gay bashing?"

Buffy shook her head.  "No, he and I were in the park and got attacked," she said quietly.  The doctor nodded.  "So he's going to be okay, just blind?"

The doctor nodded.  "Yes.  Do you know what he does for a job?"

"He's working construction," Willow sighed.  She rubbed her eyes.  "I'll talk to his boss tomorrow.  I think he has disability insurance."  The doctor nodded and let them go in to visit Xander.  He was heavily sedated but they could hug him, hold his hand, and think bad thoughts until he woke up.

***

Buffy followed Willow into the Magic Box.  It was after midnight but she had told both 'adults' to meet them.  She grimaced, looking at Giles.  "The books are wrong."

"They're what?" he asked.

"They didn't say a thing about acid anything," Buffy said quietly.  "Like the stuff that the demon slung at Xander.  He's got a lot of first degree burns all over and some got in his eyes."  Giles went pale, grabbing the counter.

"He's going to be all right?" Joyce asked calmly.  Buffy shook her head.  "No?"

"No, he's going to be blind and even a cornea transplant might not work," Willow said.  She deflated into a chair. "Even healing spells won't work.  I tried one like what we used on Buffy's cut that time.  It didn't do anything but ease a few of the burns."  She rubbed her face.  "He's sedated.  Spike's sitting watch on the hospital to make sure no one's going to touch him."

"Then we've got to get him to leave the town," Giles said.  The girls glared at him.

"I hate that it's a sensible solution but he'll be in more danger here," Joyce sighed.  She sat down, pulling Buffy over to hug her.  "I'd never want to make the decision for him but if he's blind he'll be in more danger than usual and it's not good for anyone."

"We have to tell Anya," Willow said.  "We called but couldn't find her."

"She's off having dinner with one of her former friends," Giles said.  "She left a bit early for that."  They nodded.  "So, what are his options?"

"Healing for a long time," Buffy said.  "They're keeping him sedated for right now."  She pulled her hair back.  "I don't like surprising him with that decision.  We should at least ask him.  It's his life."

Joyce nodded.  "Of course.  He needs to have an idea on where he wants to move."  She gave Buffy another squeeze.  "Willow, you need to find him somewhere that he can learn how to manage his new...condition."

She nodded.  "I need to check to make sure he has disability insurance too."  She looked at Giles.  "We'll figure it out.  It'll be days before they let him out."

"It might be days before they let him wake up," Buffy agreed.  She looked at her mother.  "I'm...  This goes way beyond needing ice cream, Mom," she said quietly.

"I know.  It's the first real injury we've had in the group."  She got up and took her daughter home so Buffy could have some ice cream and cry in private.  She needed to let it out before she decided to hunt out of anger and got killed.

Giles sent Willow back to the dorm to calm down and make plans.  He had some heavier thoughts of his own.

***

Xander was allowed to wake up and tried to blink but found his eyes taped closed.  "Did they think I was dead?" he asked the person he could tell was beside him.

"No, that's so you don't damage them any more, Mr. Harris."

"Damage what?" he asked a bit too calmly.

"It's perfectly normal to not remember the incident that damaged you.  It's a way of the mind protecting itself from the memory."

Xander let out a growl.  "What damage?  I can't feel my feet or my hands," he said, starting to panic a little bit.

"That's the medicine we have you on so you don't fuss at the acid burns."

"What acid burns?" he growled.  "Quit dancing around it.  Please!"

"You were attacked by someone carrying something acidic.  He splashed most of your front.  Your jeans protected your legs the most but your shirt got eaten through before the paramedics got there.  I'm afraid you have third degree burns on your chest and arms, and some second degree ones on your legs and shoulders.  A few second degree ones on your face as well."  He reached up slowly and carefully, patting around.  "Yes, some of it did get into your eyes."

He deflated, making himself stay calm.  "How damaged?"

"Very.  The doctor will be in soon to do a bandage change.  You can ask him."  She left.

Xander patted around.  He was in a hospital bed.  He could smell the casket factory's stench so he had to still be in Sunnydale.  He willed himself to not scream.  He wasn't going to give in to that urge.  He wasn't.  He would handle this like the mature man he was growing into and then make sure whatever had done it was dead.  It'd be more dead than the Master was thanks to Buffy.

Someone male cleared their throat from the doorway.  "Mr. Harris, I'm your doctor."

"What.  Happened?"

"All we know is that you were out with a female friend and you got attacked by someone carrying acid."  He came over and touched him.  "It's going to sting a bit when I remove the bandages."

"Why am I still here?  Usually I'd have been moved."

"Your friends have been watching over you.  You've had a constant guardian the whole time."  He cut the bandages on the side of Xander's head and unwound them.  He tossed them into the bag the nurse was holding.  Then the pads over his eyes.  Then the tape holding his lids down.   "Okay, open your eyes slowly."  Xander blinked a few times.  "What do you see?"

"A shitload of dark gray.  And a few flashes of minor light from about there," he said with a point.

"That's your bedside lamp," the nurse said quietly.  She and the doctor shared a look. She left him to handle the delicate situation.  He was a good man and not a vampire.  He'd take care of the boy.

When the doctor had examined them, put in new drops, and redone the bandages he left.  Xander was left alone in the dark.  He hated the dark.  He really hated the dark.  He had never liked the dark and now he was confined to it forever.  This was going to kill him.

Spike leaned down.  "Slutty's crying again," he said in his ear.  "She said she's sorry."

"Is the thing dead?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Good!"

"She set it on fire."  He patted him hard on the head.  "Need noise?"

"I could use a few minutes to process."

"Nope, not allowed."  He smirked.  "The girls or someone will want to visit later."

"I don't think it's a good idea because I'm about to start spewing."

Spike nodded, getting up.  "I'll be outside and up the hall flirting with the pretty nurse that reminds me of my princess."  He closed the door behind him.  Willow had told him to give Xander room if he wanted it.  He had to grieve or something like that.  Spike had no idea why.  He wasn't used to dealing with ideas like this.  Even with the wheelchair he knew he'd get better sometime if he fed on the right source.  He heard something break and winced.  "At least it's not crying," he muttered to himself.

***

Giles sat down beside Xander's bed, clearing his throat.  "Xander, are you awake?" he asked quietly.

"Not much else to do in here when you can't watch TV," Xander said sarcastically.

"Yes, I can see how that would be a problem."  He cleared his throat and fidgeted for a moment then calmed himself.  "It's been...  We've been talking."  Xander nodded at that.  "We think it'd be better if you left town."

"Gee, just what I need.  To start over again without any support anywhere I might be familiar with," he said dryly.  "Because, ya know, that'll just make it *so* much easier."

"Yes, but it'd be safer," Giles said.  "Not as many demons."

Xander turned his head to 'look' at him.  "Bull fucking shit.  I carry enough hellmouth energy to draw them to me.  At least here I know who all the threats are."

"I think that someone might have a plan to capture you to use against the group," he said quietly.

"I'm not real useful for that now," he said.  "The only thing they could use me for is as a sacrificial victim.  Which can happen anywhere."

"Yes, but the vampires...."

Xander burst out in angry sounding cackles.  "Really?  We're worried about *vampires*?  When there's a crapload of vamps in most cities?  Which, again, I wouldn't be familiar with.  Therefore I wouldn't know my way around and wouldn't realize how to get to safety."

"That's a concern but there's also schools for the blind to help you learn how to manage things for yourself."  He cleared his throat.  "Most of them on the east coast admittedly."

"California's is in Fremont."

"There is?"

"Yes.  There's one in about every state," Xander said.  "Willow showed up earlier to babble about the various ones.  Also, hate to say it, but I don't have insurance that would cover this sort of thing if it doesn't happen at work.  She was pouting about that.  Though she did think it was neat that my middle name is shared by one of the schools.  Also, most of them are for high school aged kids.  Willow looked at the one here, it's only for people up to 22.  Which I'm over now."

Giles sighed.  "I hadn't thought of that."

"There's a whole lot of things to think about but I'm still not happy with the whole 'push Xander away' thing coming back.  I'm actually safer where I know the territory.  Not somewhere completely new, not somewhere with unexplored threats, and not somewhere there's not a job training program."

"There's regular disability," Giles offered.

Xander turned his head to 'look' at him again.  "Which means I need to move somewhere very inexpensive.  SSI, as far as I know, is only six-seventy-four a month."  Giles hissed and winced.  "Yeah, not exactly something I can live on, on the east coast."

"Well, perhaps we'll find something."  He hesitated and patted him on the arm.  "We'll work it out."

Xander nodded.  "I'm sure I will.  Has anyone heard from Anya?"

"She was here the next morning but you were sedated.  I'll talk to her when I get back to the store."  He stood up.  "Do you need anything right now?"

"Less itchy from the burns.  My eyes ache.  The usual things I'd expect," he sighed.

"All right."  He patted him again then left.

Xander growled and resettled himself in the bed.  He seriously needed to beat someone's ass.  "Maybe I'll take martial arts training now," he decided.  "It can only help."  He turned on the TV for noise.  The nurse came in to turn it down on him.  "I need the noise."

"You're too noisy," she said, smiling at him.  "You'll keep up the cranky old woman up the hall."  She left again.

Xander considered things.  This sucked.  This sucked on a galactic scale that not even comic book heroes could deal with.  Even Daredevil didn't have weeks like this one.

***

Willow huffed as she hung up.  "It's not *their* fault their books are wrong?" she said sarcastically.  "Bull snot!"  She threw the phone and huffed, staring at her computer.  It was wrong.  It was very wrong.  Then again, so was the Council.  She opened her laptop and then closed it to go get a drink from the campus bookstore.  By the time she came back she had a good idea of what needed to be done.  She found someone that would make a good cover for her activity and walked up to them.  He stared at her.  "I want your help."

"With what?" he asked hesitantly.

"Xander got hurt because some idiots in England's books were wrong.  I want to fix it for him."

He stared at her.  Then around before looking at her again.  "You want us three to help him?" he asked quietly.

"I can hack," she said dryly.  "I need a good covering group."  She stared at him.  "They're hoarding knowledge and creating problems.  Heck, they even tried to kill Buffy a few times."

He nodded once.  "Sure.  Let me get the guys together.  What happened?"

She sat on the bench next to him with a sound like she was deflating.  "Their books were wrong and they won't take responsibility for it being wrong.  They never said anything about acid that would burn Xander so badly or his eyes."

He awkwardly patted her on the back.  "He'll be okay."

She looked at her hands, shaking her head.  "No, they can't save his sight," she said quietly.  "At all."

He winced.  "Damn.  We'll definitely help.  One of us owes our lives to Buffy."  He patted her again.  "Give me two hours."

She looked at him.  "The address?" she asked dryly.

He grinned.  "We've been working on the Council for a few months now, Willow.  They're hiding some of the greatest stuff in the world but they're kinda more evil than our group of evilness.  They'd be competition we don't want."  He got up and walked off.  The other two of his trio were in class for another few minutes.  It gave him time to make plans.  Willow would be so amazed, Johno might even get to ask her out.  She was his sort of geekette.

Willow stared after him, mouth slightly open.  She had no idea the geek trio were going evil.  Huh.  She'd have to tell Buffy.

***

Xander woke up with a mental groan when he heard the door open.  "What?" he asked.  "Medicine time?"

"No," Andrew said, coming in and sitting next to his bed.

"Great," he growled.  "Who told everyone?"

"Willow asked us to cover her hacking."  He grinned, patting him on the hand.  "They're so very sorry."  Xander looked confused.  "We've been thinking about them being our evil competition for a while now."

"Angel said that Wolfram and Hart are the ultimate evil corporation and they're lawyers. They've been pissing Cordy off for months."

"Huh.  We'll work on them next."  He smiled.  "The three of us negotiated your retirement from the evil after-hours job you had.  Including your retirement fund."

"Retirement fund?" Xander asked.

"Yup."

"As in magical fingers investment method?"

"Yup."  Andrew grinned at him even though he couldn't see it.  "There's also been some research about schools for the blind.  The local one won't work.  They didn't have any links for adults who suddenly lost their vision but there's groups that do help.  Including one-on-one tutoring."  Xander grimaced.  "That way you learn how to read Braille.  You learn how to use the little white cane and maybe a dog."  Xander almost smiled at that.  "And they'll teach you how to get around since you won't be able to drive.  Though, you'll have enough for a driver."  He grinned.  Someone opened the door and tossed in a note then left.  He read it and nodded.  "Johno said that they're trying to take most of it back.  They're going to be miserable.  Willow's working on it too."

"Thanks," Xander said quietly.

"It's not a problem.  If it wasn't for you guys, we'd be dead right now.  All big blobs of snake crap."  Xander grimaced but nodded.  He patted him on the shoulder.  "Got anywhere you'd like to go to?"

"Here?  I know the terrain here."

"Willow said that wasn't an option. Sorry?"

"No, Giles tried that too," he sighed. He shifted.  "I get out in two days.  I still haven't talked to my girlfriend either."

"I can have Willow go tell the scary woman to show up."  He stood up. "Let me go help her.  You rest.  It's going to be a trying few days, Xander."  He left, going to tell the others that they had to get Xander a retirement fund one way or another.  No matter what any hackers the Council had thought.  They found Willow doing something magical off to the side.  Then suddenly the hackers quit trying to attack them.  Andrew looked at her.  "Did you kill them?"

"No.  But they have no idea about anything they've ever done."  She smiled.  "How is he?"

"A bit depressed but I'd consider that normal.  He wanted to talk to Anya."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"They're dating," Warren pointed out.  "I'd want my woman's input and so would you, Willow."

"Maybe," she said.  "But Anya's not really ...normal."

"We know," the guys said.

"She's dating Xander, of course she's not," Jonathan quipped.

She smiled.  "Thanks, guys.  Just make sure they can't get it back or trace it?"  They nodded.  She went to talk to Anya.  The guys settled in to deal with the evil things.  Andrew told them what Xander had said about Wolfram and Hart.  They were the ultimate evil corporation so they'd work their way up to them.  Though they had nice accounts too and no hackers on staff for some reason.  It was really dumb of the demons to do that.

***

Anya knocked then walked into Xander's room.  "I was here days ago."

"I was asleep then," he said.  He turned his head to face her.  "So, how's things?"

"Bad," she admitted.  "I'm not really happy."

"Think how I feel," he said dryly.

"That's something I don't really know how to do."  She sat down.  "I know you're probably angry and upset about all this."  He nodded.  "I have no idea what I could do to make you feel better.  Sex obviously isn't going to be enough, or even cuddling.  This might even take Dr. Phil's help."

He shook his head.  "Counseling maybe but probably not.  I doubt he'd want to hear about demons."

"He knows.  He is one."

"Good to know.  Confirms my theory about him," Xander said.  He shifted.  "Everyone's pressuring me to move."

"There are all those bad sorts who would bother Buffy or Willow trying to get you for some nefarious plan.  They'd never get anything done thanks to them."

"I doubt most of them would and what about all the hellmouth taint I carry?  It caused no end of troubles when I was in Oxnard.  I saw more demons there than I have here."

She grimaced.  "I have no idea how to handle that."

"Me either," he said.  "Which is why I'd rather learn how to be ...this new me here, where things are familiar."

"Bu it's February, there'll be a battle soon.  Then what'll you do?"

"Maybe."

"No maybe about it.  Willow was hearing rumors."

"Damn."

"There's some pretty areas that have schools."

"Mostly for kids."

"Oh."   She crossed her legs.  "I'm not sure what needs to happen.  I don't want to go somewhere people won't understand me."

"You know you're welcome to come with me."

"Yes but then I'd have to take care of you like you were our child until you got better.  Which I can't do, Xander."

"I know."  He reached out and she moved her hand so he could touch her.

"So I guess I'll get the furniture?"

He smirked, shaking his head.  "Hell no."

"You won't care."

"I will care.  I bought it.  There's payments still due for another six months."

"Dirt.  I don't want to deal with that."

"I didn't figure you did."

"Maybe Mrs. Summers will let me rent her basement."  She got up and kissed him on the forehead.  "I'll see you in a few days.  I'll bring you some chocolate."  She left, going to talk to the others.  Hopefully Xander would see sense.

***

Xander woke up in his new apartment.  He could tell it wasn't the hospital, it didn't stink.  It wasn't his apartment, it didn't stink like Spike's aftershave or Anya's perfume.  Or her sweat from all the sex.  Also, the bed was a king and theirs at home was only a full.  He felt a crinkly thing under his hand and felt it.  It had raised letters that read 'play tape'.  He patted around until he ran into the tape player, finding the button with the little play arrow on it.

//Yes, we had to move you, Xander,// Willow's voice said.  //There was a huge demon that decided you'd be a fun playmate so we evacuated you.  The trio of terror made sure that no one can track you, your money, or any of your energy.  We did something so nothing should be picked up from you about that.  As of the moment, you're in San Diego.  There's two former military guys who're going to help you learn all about being blind and managing things like your safety.  Because we'd worry, you know that right?

//Anyway, they're two former Marines and they seemed pretty nice.  Joyce found them.  They have ties back to the people that do the guide dog stuff when you're ready.  The apartment you're in is yours for a year, renewable if you want to stay.  It's got an elevator and you're three stories up.  Not too high in case of emergencies or earthquakes.  Not too low so you have to smell exhaust fumes from the cars.

//You're a block from the beach so you should be able to hear it when it's quiet.  The building has a doorman who knows that you've just recently been blinded.  So he'll help with groceries and stuff if you need it.  Also, if they ask if you want a Ramaren puppy, say no.  It's a hellhound offspring.  It's cute and protective but scary.  They'd never let you on busses with it.//

Xander snorted.  "Busses, great," he muttered.

//Maybe some day you can hire a driver type person, who knows.  Anyway, I left all the information on your stuff on the desk.  The geek triad agreed you'd never have to worry about anything and if someone tried something they were going to get mean and give you more.  So don't worry about that stuff.  Also, after the regular training you can move wherever you want and do whatever you can.  I have no idea what sort of career blind people can do.  I couldn't find any research on it.  So anyway, we'll call real soon.  Rest, get better, all that.  Behave, be safe, don't date girls like Anya.  We love you and miss you already.//  The tape cut off.

Xander threw the tape player against the opposite wall.

"Feel better?" a male voice asked.

Xander turned his head that way.  "No.  I can't beat the shit out of someone."

"I've had that feeling, kid."

"I'm twenty-three."  He sat up and winced.  "How badly am I still burned?"

"Few on your legs.  Your back's sore because they dropped you while carrying you, however they were carrying you."  He walked in and looked down the back of the guy's t-shirt.  "Few good bruises."  He let him go.  "I'm Arnold.  There's Jerry who'll be in later."  Xander nodded once.  "You don't seem too surprised."

"As soon as I woke up they were trying to get me to move."

"They said your town's dangerous."  He patted him on the head.  "How long were you in the hospital?"

"No damn clue.  I've been awake four days I think."

"Okay.  That account?"

"Not my doing.  She was trying to be sweet and the people whose books were wrong, which led to me being burned, were who she was taking it out on."

"Like bomb making?"

"No."  He grinned.  "I have no idea how to explain that to you without suggesting a day trip up to Sunnydale.  Though you'd really need to stay in all night so you don't die."

"I heard about some whacked out project up that way."

"The group I was part of helped shut them down."  Arnold hissed, so he had probably winced as well Xander decided.  "If they said anything about Buffy?  I worked with her."

"Yeah, heard a lot about her from some of the drunkest people I've ever met."  He patted him on the head, earning a wince.  "Still hurt?"

"Yup.  Sorry."

"Don't apologize.  How'd it happen?"

"I was helping defeat something bigger and stronger than me that we didn't know sweated acidic stuff.  Which he sprayed me with."

"Ow.  No wonder you're still burned."  He helped him up.  "Bathroom?"

"Please, yes.  I'll even sit down."

"Might be easier at first."  He led him in there and gave him some privacy.  "When do the bandages come off your eyes?"

"I'm wearing bandages?"

"I'll see if the redheaded babble patrol can get your medical records then."  He called her, walking out into the living room.  "We need Xander's medical records, the full thing if possible.  Also, I heard what was on that tape, Rosenburg."  He listened to her babble and the thing in the background sneer that she should be on Janus' side by now.  Then it die loudly.  "What was that?"

"Did it sound gruff and tell Willow she's a bad witch?" Xander called.

"Yes.  Why?"

"It's name was George and it's a people eater.  It wants her as a wife."

"Oh, okay."  He listened to her.  "Sure, we'll come up and get them."  He hung up.  Something was seriously wrong here and he needed the right information.  Because that kid wasn't the average non-trained civilian who had gotten hurt.  He knew that just from the single time he had met Rosenburg and Mrs. Summers.  He helped the kid out to the couch, making him grin.  "What do you usually eat?"

"Whatever one of us felt like cooking?  I wasn't home all that often."

"Okay."  He went to make him something from the freezer and brought it out.  The boy inhaled the scent and got happy, slurping it down as fast as he could.  He didn't make too much of a mess either.

***

Arnold talked to a friend that night who wasn't in San Diego, but who had contacts pretty well everywhere that counted.  He got them a dossier on the boy done by that group they helped shut down, the same one that had all those newly drunk people on their base.  He also got them film.  Which explained a lot about why those guys were drunk.  He and Jerry went over it together.  They got one of the base docs they trusted, who handled the Special Forces guys, to come see the kid.  Two days later they had a better medical report, the better dossier done by people who had actually talked to the boy, and more film that made them drink even more.  Apparently the kid realized what was going on because he offered them Tylenol all the time.

Yeah, the kid needed a lot more help than they presently could give but they'd help him get as close to everyone else's idea of normal as they could.

Clearly the boy needed normal.

***

Jerry, who was Xander's other helper, looked at the kid.  "You're about ready to start PT."

"I used to work construction.  I did PT all the time for work."

"Well, now you get to learn how to do it differently."  He grinned.  "Let's start to see how strong you are.  The building has a gym."  He helped him up.  "It'll also help when we start working with the cane so you can figure out how to get around."

"That might be okay."

"Good!"  He got the kid downstairs and to the gym, testing him on the various equipment.  He was taking good notes but the kid was being wishy washy.  He suddenly upped the lifting weight he was pushing and the boy groaned but handled it.  "So, construction?"

"Yeah, I'd just barely made crew lead," he said quietly.  "If I must, I can lift up to about one-fifty in a dead lift.  Average, I try to stay under eighty."

"That's not bad," Jerry said.  Arnold walked in.  "We're going over what he can do."

"Treadmill yet?"

"Not yet," Xander said.  "If we must I run like a girl.  Mostly because I was surrounded by girls.  That and the gym coaches didn't want us to really run very well."

Jerry looked around then at him.  "Blue guy?"

"Judge?" Xander said.  "Wanted to kill everyone for having emotions."

"Huh," Arnold said.  "We saw the film."

Xander grinned.  "That was a nice birthday present for her kind of."

"I thought Rosenburg babbling was going to warp my mind," Jerry complained.

Xander grinned at him.  "I've known Willow since the first day of school."

"I guess that's why you run like a girl," Arnold quipped.  "How're we doing?"  Jerry showed him and they went back over a few machines to see his max weight.  They got him working on how to use the cane afterward.  How to tap it, how to tell when you ran into something and where it was relative to you.  The boy had good relative visualization of his space but crappy balance.  So they'd work on that.  A lot.

***

Jerry walked into Xander's apartment and shut the door with a slam, locking it as hard as he could.  "Xander, you're in trouble."

"What did I do this time?" he called from the bathroom.  He came out with his electric razor in one hand and a wet washcloth in the other.  "I haven't been out in days."

"There's some people looking for you.  The person we got your file through heard someone else was sniffing around and they're of the sacrificing kind."

"Great," he growled.  "Wolfram and Hart or the Watchers Council?"

"Huh?"

"One's a law firm.  The other's mostly Brits."

"Law firm probably."

"Yay," he muttered.  "Okay, well...."  He started to look around and sighed.  "Can you find my phone?"  It was handed over.  "Call Cordy."  It dialed and he sat down.  His razor and washcloth went onto the coffee table but Jerry moved it off a magazine.  "Cordy, me."  He put her on speaker.

"Xander?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"Where the hell are you?  We heard rumors that you left town?  Got run out of town?"

"Some demon we were fighting spit acid all over me, I'm presently blind," he said quietly.

"Oh, God," she hissed.  "You're what?"

"In San Diego and there's rumors that your law firm people are looking my way as a sacrifice?"

"Huh.  Angel!" she bellowed.  "Wesley!"

"What?" a male voice called, sounding a bit cranky.

"Wolfram and Hart are trying to get Xander?" she demanded.  You could almost hear her tapping her foot in the background.  "He's blind, Angel.  Did we hear that?"

"No, I hadn't," he admitted.  "Harris?"

"Yes," he said patiently.  "I'm hearing rumors of sacrificing lawyer scum?"

"You're blind?"

"Yeah.  It happened recently but that's why they decided I had to leave everything I was comfortable with.  Lawyer scum?"

"I'll look into it."

"Can we do it quickly?" Jerry asked.

"Who's that?" Cordy asked.  "Is he cute and single?"

"No clue, can't see him," Xander said dryly.  "As for single, ask him.  His name's Jerry and he's one of the two guys teaching me how to handle things."

"Someone tried to ambush us on our way back to the base to meet with some buddies," Jerry said.  "They weren't military of any sort.  Not trained to attack at all.  He asked if they were British but they didn't have accents.  They demanded to know where he was so they could kill him."

"Sounds like the lawyer scum," Cordy agreed.  "Give me a few hours to ask some people, Xander.  Where are you?"

"San Diego."

"Good!  I'll be down this weekend if you're still there."  She hung up.

Xander hung up and put his phone down before he threw it.  He was throwing a lot of things these days and his phone was necessary for now.  "Okay."  He leaned back, making Jerry move where he was leaning.  "My accounts are all set up and protected?"

"Yeah, when we heard the sort they got it from we had it moved somewhere airtight."

"Thank you."

"Not a problem, kid."  He patted him on the head, getting a wince.  "Doc said that concussion was older but would heal eventually."

"I hope."

"I'm sure it will."  He looked at the door when someone knocked.  "They can't trace your phone."

"Wolfram and Hart have government contracts," Xander said.  He got up and blindly felt his way to the TV stand, finding his gun behind it.  He felt, the bullets were in it.  It felt full.  He walked over to the door and opened it, pointing his gun in the face of whoever was out there.  "You'd better be a missionary."

"Mr. Harris," the man said.  "I'm with Wolfram and Hart."

"With my past, that's a really good reason to shoot you.  You've got about ten seconds to tell me why I shouldn't."

"We're aware that someone hacked us on your behalf."

"Wasn't me.  I was in the hospital."

"I can see the bandages.  Could you actually hit me?"

Xander sniffed and nodded.  "Yes, the hyena says you stink.  She's growling about soul rot and things like that."  The man backed up.  "Keep going.  Your ten seconds are nearly up."

"Do you know who did that?"

"Nope."

"Do you care that that's illegal?"

"Which is different than being on an anti-demon patrol how?" Xander asked.

"Um...."  The lawyer considered that.  "I'm not sure what you mean."

Xander cackled.  "Boy, I used to work with Buffy Summers.  As in the slayer."

"Oh.  Dear," he muttered.

"Yeah, the mayor said that before he went sploosh.  So did the Judge."

The lawyer swallowed and backed up further.  "I had no idea you were part of the Sunnydale group."

"Know many other Xander Harris'?"

"No.  Not actually."  He cleared his throat.  "We'd like to talk to the people who hacked us."

"I have no idea about any of that.  I was in the hospital, mostly sedated."

"That's fine.  I can report that."

Xander smirked.  "Report that now I'm a bit paranoid and I'm going to destroy anything or anyone that comes near me.  It might save someone's ass."  He shut the door.  Jerry took the gun to look over.  "I know what to do with them.  I learned over the years."

"That's fine.  Just making sure."  He looked at the kid.  "Are they going to come back?"

"Possibly.  It depends on if they think I have value."  He sat down, barely on the chair.  He shifted to get comfortable.  "What was I doing?"

"Shaving.  Though you missed half of your chin."

"This sucks.  I'm growing a damn beard."

"You can manage it."  He took him to show him how to do it the easiest way.  When the door blew in Jerry still had Xander's gun and his own.  That solved that problem and the PD was there before the last of them fell to the floor.  They actually took the last shot.  "Guys, I'm his caretaker.  He's newly blind."  He held up the gun.  "That's his."

Xander leaned out of the bathroom.  "Pawn shop bought but registered through them last year."

The police officer closest frowned and pointed.

"It's real new," Jerry said.  "That's why I'm helping the kid learn what he needs to know."

"I still suck at it," Xander said.

"It takes time to learn new things, kid."

"Yup, which still sucks."

The officer shook his head, pulling Jerry away to talk to him.  Another went into the bathroom to talk to the kid.  She kept him calm and got him talking about all this.

Jerry looked at one's ID.  "Kids, this one's a Brit."

"Name?"

"Pryce."

"His son works with Cordy in LA.  Hopefully he's dead since he tried to wet works me when I was seventeen.  Then Buffy and Faith last year."  He patted around.  "My phone?"  The officer went to get it for him and he called her.  "Cordy, me.  I think we just shot Wes's dad when he broke into my place.  Here's Jerry, yeah him."  He held the phone out.  "Jerry, Cordy."  He took it to tell her that name.

"It's him," he said, hanging up.

"Whoo-hoo, one less person who wants to kill my ass," Xander said dryly.  "If one's named Travers it'll make my damn year."  He went back to the bedroom to curl up on his bed.  "How many were there?"

"You know a lot about them?" the officer asked.

Xander nodded.  "A bit.  They keep trying to kill some of my friends and they consider me the scab from underneath Satan's tail.  They've tried to kill her a few times."

"Are they a US firm?" she asked, sitting on the foot of the bed.

"No.  British."  He grinned.  "By Stonehenge.  My former mentor was one of them but they fired him for giving too much of a damn."

"Huh."  She went to talk to the officer in charge, who was getting what he needed from someone on the phone.  They got the mess cleaned up and talked to Jerry about him going to a more protected location since he was so helpless right now.

When they were gone, Xander walked out there.  "I'll still shoot 'em.  Even if I can't see them."  He went to get a drink.  He had learned how to pour milk without it spilling all over.  Took a few times but he got the trick.

Jerry watched the kid act like it was nothing unusual.  He knew commandos that couldn't pull that off like the boy was.  "How many times has this happened?"

"Them?  Once.  As far as I know. They tried to get Buffy three, four times."  He sipped his milk.  "They hate me because I did back up Buffy.  It was supposed to be her, her watcher - one of them - and that's it.  Then I warped things.  So yeah, I'm like the scab that fell off the underside of Satan's tail for them."  He took another drink.  "So now what?  I can feel the tension all the way in here and I'm pretty sure it's not sexual in nature."

"No, you're still not my type," he said blandly.  "Let me talk to Arnold."

"Sure.  Can I watch TV?"

"Go for it, kid."  He went out to the hallway to call his buddy.  This totally was out of their depth.  They may be Marines but they weren't used to homicidal secret societies.  Especially not foreign ones.  "How do you feel about planes?" he called a few hours later.

"Never been on one.  I might not want to go on one with all the ones that've crashed if I could see the ground getting way too tiny."

"Then it's good you can't," Jerry joked.  Xander grinned at him for that.  He liked the kid, he really did.  The kid didn't whine, start on a 'why me' thing daily, or try to be annoying.  He'd miss the kid a lot.

***

Xander got escorted to a warm, damp, humid place.  There was an apartment with a lot of light.  There was a beach nearby and a highway.  There was a lot of noise.  He closed the window with a wince.  He turned to listen to Arnold talk to whoever.  "I don't want to be a bother," he said.

"You won't be."  The stranger smiled.  "There's a good school here in Hawaii.  They have an outreach center for the older of you who need help.  They'll set you up with someone to help you take care of the house and someone to teach you how to do things."  Xander nodded.  "Other than that, it's a lot safer here.  There's a lot of tourists but the community pretty well gets to know regulars."  He walked over and helped the kid to a seat.  "How recent is the injury?"

"Under a month."

"Then you're doing okay so far, kid."  He patted him on the head.  "Anything I should know, Arnold?"

"Did Jerry tell you about the British secret society sorts?"  That got a groan.  "Or that we got a file on him that made us both get drunk for almost a week?"

Xander grinned.  "All in the wacky that was my life.  I really should talk Spike into moving in.  He'll pick on me but it'll definitely be safer."

"He showed up once.  We don't want to think about Spike," Arnold said.  He looked at his buddy.  "He's going to try to stay out of trouble.  Out of his old life before they find him that way."

"Wolfram and Hart probably tracked a pizza delivery and the Council probably got it off them," Xander said.  "Either that or my scary ex's, Cordy and Anya, might've spilled."

"That's another thing.  While he's here, try to set him up with something nice," Arnold ordered.

"Something?  It's okay if you're bi, kid."

Xander shrugged.  "I've had girlfriends.  I haven't really done much thinking about the whole gay thing really."

"His ex Anya gave us both a headache," Arnold told his buddy.  "We were with a few of our fellow Marines, mostly still in service, and we *all* had to drink after a half-hour with her."

"She didn't try to kill me," Xander said.  "It was nice.  She was there, she liked me."

"The other, Cordy, is a princess.  A scary damn princess.  Mack, there's SEALs who thought she was too scary to mess with."  Xander burst out cackling, curling up some to laugh.  "So if you can, find the kid something nicer."

Mack Wolfe smiled at his buddy.  "I can try."

"Thank you."  He shook his hand.  "Let me get back there.  Jerry's finishing the packing for him."

"He still can't steal my pistol," Xander said.

"Including his pistol," Arnold sighed.

"Hey, I could ask someone to get my stored stuff in Sunnydale."

"It's coming too.  We asked someone to ask Rosenburg."  He rolled his eyes since the kid couldn't see it.  "The file we have on him is in my bag."  He got it for his buddy.  The detective read it over, nodding slightly.  "He's not to go there."

"It might make me safer if I did touch base," Xander said.  "Without divulging my location."

"There's a whole bar and it's on another island," Detective Wolfe said.  "They got run out of everywhere else so they built on one of the smallest of them."

"Damn."

"Sorry, but it'll definitely be safer if they don't know where you're staying."  He closed the file.  It was already giving him a headache.  "We'll introduce you to some nice people.  Maybe find you someone nice to date.  Then you can work on all the retraining.  Including going to one of the local dojos that works with the blind community on balance and learning how to tell your area better."

"That would help," Xander agreed more quietly.  "Thank you.  I know I can be a pain."

"There's some extraordinary circumstances but otherwise you're still learning.  It's only been a month.  For now, get settled in and relax.  We'll deal with things."  Xander nodded, letting them help him into the bedroom so he could rest.  It had been a long, tiring flight in coach.  Mack came back and looked at his former running buddy.  "This is bad," he said quietly, waving the folder.

Arnold nodded.  "That's the better one.  We got one that was full of crap."

"Any of them local to here?"

"Wolfram and Hart maintains a corporate apartment but it's on another island."  He handed over that information.  "The Council has no one local."

Mack nodded as he read it over.  "That's good."

"The kid's also a bit vindictive.  He called some friends and asked them to take out the law firm for him."

"Can they?"

"Don't know," he admitted.

Xander snickered.  "Maybe.  They said they're missing Warren since he tried to shoot Buffy.  Willow apparently snapped and fried his ass when Buffy complained about a gun."  The older men both groaned.  He grinned.  "If not, I've got a call in to someone who can."

"That's good.  You rest, kid.  I'll bring over your helper later or early tomorrow.  Can you handle it tonight?"  Xander nodded.  "Good."  He left with his buddy.  "I want that full file."

"Talk to Jerry."

"I can do that."  He shook his hand and took him to talk to the outreach people.  They had everything set up, they just had to introduce the kid.  That would help him get more comfortable in his apartment and where things were.

***

Xander was sitting on his tiny balcony a few days later, sipping some tea.  Thankfully they had gotten him plastic cups since he had found them by knocking a few down.  His housekeeper was a flake.  Seriously.  His teacher wasn't too bad but his housekeeper was bad.  She was also a demon, he could smell it on her.  She huffed from the doorway.  "Keep it up, watch me find my old hunting stuff," he said quietly.

"What?"

Xander turned his head to stare in her direction.  "Go get my wallet."  She did and he found the thing he had put into one pocket, holding it up.  She gasped and started to babble.  He put it back.  "I'm not really in a good mood," he said quietly, putting the wallet next to him.  "I haven't been in a good mood in over a month.  Especially not since I keep hearing someone British."

"They're not Council.  They're on vacation.  They're nice older people who have a second home here.  Most of the Council goes to the Caribbean when they want a vacation."

"Uh-huh."  He sipped his iced tea.  "What are you doing to the shower?"

"Cleaning it."

"It smells like slime."

"It is, but it's cleaning it very well.  It's all natural and won't hurt the fragile sewer system we have here."

"Oh, okay.  Just warn me so I can hide out here from the stink.  I hate slime."

"Sure."  She went inside to call the trainer he had.  They had no idea he was from Sunnydale.  That was going to suck for him when the big thing happened next week.  But she was sure she could find a nicer person to help.  He was a bit...angry most of the time.

***

Xander's trainer was leading him around the beach to practice using his cane when he heard the fighting.  "Great," he muttered.

"You're in no shape," she said firmly.

He laughed.  "When have I been in shape?"  She moaned.  "What is it?  Mugging?  Demon uprising?"

"No, they're having a party later."

"I heard."  She winced and hissed.  "You might tell them I'll kill them all."

"Sure," she said weakly.  She walked him off while calling the beach cops about the attempted fighting going on.  "You really should lay lower."

"I do until something comes for me."

"Oh."

"Then I get to let out all the anger I have about all of this on something."  They nearly ran into someone and he sniffed.  He knew that scent.  He smiled.  "I like your perfume, ma'am.  My last girlfriend wore the same scent."  She laughed and swatted him.  "Though I do wish that I could benefit from all the people that are planning on screwing with me for the rest of my life.  Preferably in a way that means I can buy a driver and a house somewhere.  Or multiple houses."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "Hi, Kelsi."

"Xander," she moaned.  He grinned as they walked off.  She went to check with D'Hoffryn.  Her skin was itching to grant that one.  "Harris just laid a loaded one."

"I heard and that would complicate things but not stop them fully."  She granted it and then they saw all the plans unraveling.   "How?" he asked, looking at them.

She laughed.  "Anya said every evil thing wanted a Xander of their own."  She disappeared to talk to him.  He was clearly needing someone to listen and maybe kick him around a bit.  It'd be like therapy.  His soul was screaming 'victim' to her.  It was tasty and he was good from what Anya said.

***

Later that night, Xander woke up after having been taken from his apartment.  He could feel the ropes around his wrists.  He could hear the shaken voices and the screaming going on from the other captives.  "Fuck this shit," he muttered.  He found his pocket knife in his back pocket and opened it, using it to first cut something on his arm by feel.  Then the ropes.  When nothing happened he felt around until he found it then he cut it.

He felt warm suddenly.  Very warm.  The feared voices were babbling and trying to get away from him.  He handed one his knife.  "I want that back."  He made his way out there, following the noise.  They had nicely smoothed the path out for ease of dragging sacrificial victims.  He heard a cheer showing that they had just killed someone.  So he called up that hint of 'oh shit' from Sunnydale.  Oh shit was what Giles had called it when he had realized how much taint Xander was carrying from the hellmouth.  Plus some latent magic.

"Look, he's choosing his time," one shouted, pointing at him.

"Why yes I am."  He muttered Willow's explosion spell.  Nothing.  "So we'll do this my way."  He concentrated and let the power out.  It leaked.  They glowed.  A few screamed.  And then the cops showed up.  Xander passed out and the building went up.  That helped them a lot since it was just the roof and two walls - not the people or the demons.

***

Xander woke up in a familiar smelling place.  "Hospitals, yuck."

"Stay," Detective Wolfe ordered.

"Am I under arrest for saving my ass?"

"No, you're in radiation lockdown."

"My town has a nifty spot that's a thin spot between realms."

"Uh-huh.  You're glowing."  Xander patted his arm.  "We bandaged that."

"We need to seal it and then redo the lines I cut."

"That's just weird."

"Yeah but it's meant to keep it inside."  He smiled.  "I doubt I could do that again though."

"Good!  We have cops in therapy, Xander."

"Oops?"

"Not hardly."

"Saving myself?"

"Definitely."  He patted him on the head.   "Thank you for doing that.  Even if you did destroy most of the building."

"Sorry?"

"They deserve it.  They were renting it but the owner's filed for his insurance by now I'm sure.  They shouldn't want to come after you."

"Thanks."

"Welcome."  He watched the kid get comfortable.  A nurse he knew wasn't human came in.  She was green and looked like she had bug eyes.  Clearly not human.  "Ma'am?"

"Harris?"

"Present," he sighed.

"What did you do?"

"Let out the hellmouth taint?"

"Clearly!"  She sealed the cut on his arm, healing the lines back into proper form.  "There, don't do that again."  She patted him on the head and handed him something.  "Tootsie pop?"  He grinned.  "You'll get out soon.  I'll tell your doc.  He's not one of us but he knows about Sunnydale."  She left, making notes on his chart.

Detective Wolfe shook his head.  "Yeah, that's weird."

"Sunnydale is full of weird.  Sorry to drag you into it."  He unwrapped his sucker with some help and stuck it in his mouth with a sigh of pleasure.  "The evil one that does my house hates candy."

"I'll talk to her."

"Check my wallet since my bank account said it was shorter than it should be?"

"Um... yeah, I can do that."  He went to the kid's house.  It was cleaned out.  He got someone from Robbery there to handle it.  At least the suspect pool was small.  They got all his things back by that night and it was nicer.  They even got most of his money back from his housekeeper, who thought he wouldn't be needing it anymore.

Clearly she had underestimated Xander.

From his files, that happened a lot.

Not from the Hawaii PD anymore but maybe it'd help him land a good girl some year soon.

***

Xander faced off with the new instructor.  "What do you call situational awareness?"

"That time when you realize you're about to be attacked so you notice a lot more going on around you," Xander said.

The instructor blinked.  "That's a good time to use it.  Now you need to use that more often."

"I'm trying but my balance is shot and things that're below my knees are tripping me.  A few even bit."

The instructor smiled.  "We can work on that.  Balance could be because of the injury?  I'm told you're not naturally blind."

"No, it was an acid attack while I was helping with my former friends and our town vigilante patrol."  The instructor snickered.  "Seriously.  Our town has a twenty-six percent death rate."

"Shoot, no wonder."  He was still smiling.  "Someone splashed you with acid?"

"Something like that.  Thankfully most of the burns are gone."

"Any hope for a transplant?"

Xander shook his head.  "No.  I need to see someone better than the one I saw back there but they said no.  So now I have to learn to get used to this," he finished with a sigh.  "I'm not adapting very well."

"I'd be pissed off too, Harris."  He walked him over to the mats and balance beam on the floor.  "All right.  Slight step up."  Xander overcompensated but that was normal.  "We have a balance beam on the floor.  So you can't do more than stumble."

"My balance truly sucks," Xander warned.

"I noticed you're wobbling while standing.  A lot of newly blind people do."  He helped him onto it and the kid stumbled.  "Had your ears checked?"

"Not unless they did it at Sunnydale General.  Or the Special Forces doc my first helpers made see me did."

"Hmm.  We'll see."  He helped him back onto it and helped him walk down it.  "It ends about a half footstep in front of you," he warned.  Xander tried to turn and stumbled but got back up there.  "Are you on any medicines?"

"No. Why?"

"Nothing for pain?"

"Advil."

"Is it working?"

Xander's snort sounded a bit bitter to him.  "No.  I don't want to be a junkie though."

"If it's used appropriately you won't be."

"Both my parents are drunks.  Addiction does run in my family.  It loves us."

"Still, we can see if you can get an as-needed something.  We have docs here who can recommend a good doctor for you."  He kept working on the kid's balance.  He clearly needed some things examined.  He got the person who referred you to better specialists in to talk to Xander about his medical records.  Xander said that his former people may have given them to Detective Wolfe but otherwise no one was sure.  They got him set up with a new eye doctor and a regular one to check his ears and other things.  Then they let him go home and sulk on his balcony.  His helper could help him make dinner.

***

Detective Wolfe looked up when someone walked up to his desk.  "Can I help you?"

"You have medical records for a Mr. Alexander Harris?"

He leaned back in his desk chair.  "I do.  Why?  They were given to me in confidence."

"We'd like to subpoena a copy," he said with a smile.

"I'm betting you're with the law firm that was trying to sacrifice him."  The man glared.  Mack smirked at him.  "The answer would be no.  Not without his permission and a court order."

"I do have the court order."

Mack looked it over.  "I don't have to comply with that."  He handed it back.  "You have a better day somewhere else."

"I'll still get them."

"You have no reasonable reason to have them."  He called Xander.  "One of those lawyer sorts they warned me about is here for your medical records, kid."

"Want me to come shoot 'im?" Xander asked.  "I'm having a bad day.  I can do that."

The lawyer laughed.  "I doubt it.  You don't really have the vision necessary do you, Mr. Harris?"

Xander was back in evil mode; Mack could hear it in his voice.  "Who said I need it?  After all, other senses do compensate.  Including the ones that I learned on patrol with the slayer."  The demon backed up looking scared.  "Now, leave the nice detective alone please.  If you want me that badly, you come at me.  Annoying me any other way means I get to be vindictive."  He hung up.

Mack smirked again.  "Boy's right."  The lawyer stomped off.  Mack got back to his paperwork but he'd talk to the kid later about things.  He was still too pissed off.

***

Xander weighed his options and then called someone in LA.  "You still owe me."  He listened to the guy complain.  "No, the fucking lawyers.  I don't care *which* Power likes it."  He snorted at the answer.  "Then I should get to destroy them for my fun, right?  Well, you *do* owe me," he said dryly.  He listened to the complaining noises.  "Up to you.  I can come back there and team up with Cordy to help me.  Not an issue, dude."

He grinned.  "Thanks!  Well, hell, I'll take all their net worth, all their hierarchy points, and them being turned into the government but I'll settle for most of the law firm's net worth."  He smiled.  "Sure, you have fun with that and let Cordy do some.  She sounded stressed when I called.  Thanks, man."  He hung up and got himself a bottle of water from the fridge.  He turned and nearly fell over a chair but pushed it back in.  "I hate furniture," he complained, going to sit outside again.  It was shady on his balcony this time of day and the noise did him good.  Made him feel less cocooned.

Some day he'd be able to get back to kicking butt.

***

The eye doctor looked at Xander.  "The acid did a very bad job."  Xander nodded he knew that.  "So did your local hospital."

"That doesn't really surprise me.  Did they make it worse?"

"They didn't make it any better.  You wouldn't have nearly as much scarring if they had gotten you to a specialist sooner."

"Doc, Sunnydale's hospital has a really high killed patient rate.  I'm lucky I survived my week or so in there."

"Why aren't they reported?"

"For the same reason my town has a twenty-six percent death rate?"

"Ow," he muttered, making that note.  "How would you know?"

"I was on our town's protection patrol until this happened.  We were in a fight when this happened actually."

"Well, that explains some of the scars I see all over your chest."  Xander nodded.  "Want the bad news or the bottom line?"

"They didn't think a transplant would do anything."

"No, it won't.  Bottom line is they managed to save the eye itself.  The other has a serious infection in it."  Xander groaned.  "The discoloring that was noted is one.  Not a serious one."

"Is that why I'm off balance all the time?"

"That could be, yes.  We'll give you something for it.  How are you doing on your retraining?"

"I suck," Xander said.  "Things that weren't there before are suddenly in my way and all sorts of things."  The doctor smiled, he could tell.  "No, seriously."  He got up and walked around the office carefully and sure enough a table moved into his way.  "See?"

"I do."  He stared at the table.  "Are you magnetic?"

"Not that I'm aware of.  If I am I wish someone would tell me.  I'll decorate in wood."  He got helped back into the chair and sighed.  "I think it's a plot by someone to injure me badly enough that I need to go back to the ER.  There's a law firm that wanted my medical records for some reason."

"I have no idea about anything like that," the doctor said.  He wrote out the prescription.  "Have them get that filled."  Xander nodded.  "It's to be taken twice a day, with food if possible.  You probably should eat more often.  You look a bit thin."

"I can't really cook, Doc."

"Didn't they get you a temporary housekeeper?"

"I had one, she stole everything out of my house.  Which was nice, I didn't trip for a few days.  I've been eating sandwiches a lot."

"I'll talk with the coordinator for you."  He made that note as well.  Xander got released back to the school's driver and sent back home.  He went to call the school's coordinator.  Someone seriously needed to be watching out for the boy.

***

Xander got what he wanted ordered in and set up in his living room.  He smiled at the demon that appeared.  He heard him appear.  "So, do I open the bottle, pour blood into it, and then make a wish or do you guys leave me the fuck alone?"

"That would destroy a great many lives, Harris."

"Yup.  It might."

"It might destroy your friends."

"The ones who decided I should be wasting away in my apartment and never get outside again?  The same ones that complained that my trainer got me out onto the beach to let me walk around in the light because it might be *dangerous*?  Or the ones that decided I was incapable of doing more than sitting on the couch eating brownies because I was now helpless?   Maybe the one that called me while slightly drunk and guilty feeling but told me he never should have let me help the group because I was normal?"

"Um...."  The demon stared at him.  "You're really pissed off at them, yeah."

"Ya think?"

"Okay.  Well....  Just don't bleed into the bottle, okay?  Or break it or anything like that?  That'd be really rash and stupid."

"No.  It'd end the threat of anything ever coming for me again from a demonic source.  Mostly because there wouldn't be any demons on this plane.  They'd all be banished."

"Yes but that could release three Old Ones back as well."

"We fought Wilkins."

"Oh.  I forgot about him."  He shifted his stance, looking at the very calm, forcibly insane human in front of him.  "Most of us aren't bad."

"No but the ones that are think I'm going to suck my thumb when something happens so they take advantage of it.  Like the nice one that stole out of my bank account."

"We wouldn't normally do that."

"Uh-huh."  He checked the stopper.

"No, don't move that."  D'Hoffryn showed up and tried to take the bottle but it was protected as long as the stopper was in.  "He's really upset, Lord D'Hoffryn."

"I can tell he's insane."

Xander giggled.  "No, just tired of the shit.  Between the law firm, some of the lesser ones that think I'm vulnerable....."  He grinned.  "Sending most of them back to their home planes doesn't sound so bad."

"It could kill a lot of demons."

"Yup."

"A lot of Sunnydale may be killed when the three Old Ones appear."

"If they appear," Xander corrected.  "Two are dead."

"Fuck," D'Hoffryn said.  All his vengeance demons screamed in fear and ran for another plane.  Their boss didn't swear.  That was a bad sign.  "Just... don't.  Let us see if that wish can cover them."

"You'd think it would've covered those that tried to sacrifice me," Xander said dryly.

"They were poor.  You only wanted monetary gains."

"Or the law firm that's been moving things around so they could get my medical records and blood."

"They're higher beings.  We don't have a thing to do with them.  We're forbidden."

"Maybe I should go to LA.  Work with Cordy for a bit on that problem."  The demons shuddered.  "Then there wouldn't be much that you couldn't handle, right?"

"With how many demons in LA might run for safety, no," D'Hoffryn said.  He summoned one of his people.  She stared at the bottle.  "Tell his former girlfriend Cordelia to please call out for me."  She left.  She paused on the way to the Hyperion to tell a demon bar that Harris had a Bottle of Ancients.  Suddenly everyone paid their tabs and left, calling their friends and family.  "Let's talk and see where the problems are, Harris.  Please?"

"For now."

"Thank you."  They settled in to talk to him.  Maybe they could calm him down.

***

Buffy looked around as demons started to leave by the truckload.  "What is going on?" she demanded, stomping over to one.  "What big thing just appeared?"

"Your former helper is going to destroy all of demon kind for some of us screwing with him," he sneered.  "You clearly didn't do him any service sending him away!"

"Yeah!  At least none of us wanted to sacrifice him," another complained.

"Xander can't do anything, guys.  He's blind," she pointed out.

"Except get hold of an ancient artifact that would destroy all of us," they told her.  They left.  They still had time to get to their native realm.

"What?" she demanded.  "Xander can't use magic!"  She stomped off to talk to Anya.  Who was now packing.  "What did he do?"

"Somehow he got hold of a bottle with three Old Ones trapped in it.  All it takes is a bit of blood to awaken them," Anya said as she packed her pants.  "He's a bit upset since some demons broke in to kidnap him to sacrifice him and a law firm is trying to get his blood too."  She walked around Buffy to grab more clothes.  "Anyone with any sort of demon taint is leaving this plane.  You should too since the slayer essence is from a demon."

"I'd have to stay to protect others."  She walked off calling Xander's cellphone.  Which was out of service.  She got the number from Willow, who had the new one.  She called him and nagged into his voicemail about losing his temper.  Clearly something needed to be worked on.  Maybe some nice therapy?  She walked into the Magic Box.  "What's a Bottle of Ancients?"  Spike moaned, shaking his head.  "How bad?"

"There's a few.  They're not hard to find but no one wants one.  It's too bloody dangerous."  He looked out there then at her.  "Someone pissed off the whelp?"

"Apparently.  He's not answering his phone.  We can't go to San Diego to talk to him in time probably."

"Probably not since they had to move him to Hawaii to protect him from the Council tossers," Spike agreed.  She gaped.  He stared at her.  "They thought they'd take their shot."  He lit a cigarette and took a deep draw.  "Well, your job's going to be boring."  He went to collect his poker debts.  That way maybe he could hide on another realm too.  Though Harris respected him.  Hated him but respected him.  So maybe he wasn't on the menu?  Angel was probably a goner but Spike might just survive.

Everyone else in town said Xander's temper came from his parents, so of course he had finally snapped and was going to kill every demon in the world.  Blood had finally told.

***

Mack Wolfe showed up at Xander's the next morning, staring at the kid.  "When was the last time you ate?"

"I had a sandwich last night."

"Why?"  He looked around the kitchen.  "The bread's green, Xander."

"That's probably why I feel a bit nauseous."

"We can go to the ER."

"No we can't.  Not until that law firm is gone."

"What are they looking for?" he asked.  "Where's your debit card?  I'll order you something for lunch."

"She nearly emptied my account anyway."

"You got that money back."

"No, not according to the bank I didn't."

"Damn it!"  He called someone to handle that.  "You're getting an executor."  Xander shrugged.  "You don't care?"

"Make sure it's not the law firm?"

"I can do that."  He saw a new bottle on the table.  "What's that?"

"The reason most demons decided to flee last night."

Mack stared at it.  "I was wondering why."

Xander grinned.  "I got tired of being fucked with so I lost my temper."

"Okay."  He finished making his calls.  He could afford to buy the kid lunch.  He clearly needed it.  Something nicely subtle so it wouldn't upset his stomach.  Then he called the school to talk to someone about that housekeeper.  He came back.  "Do you still have your trainer?"

"The PT guy I see three days a week."

"No, the one who's supposed to be teaching you how to do the normal guy things."  Xander shook his head.  "Since when?"

"Since they tried to sacrifice me.  They never came back either."

Wolfe walked off muttering to get the food from the doorman.  Who was scowling but yay.  "What?  The kid cause you problems?"

"Some of us can't leave."

"Then I'd tell the others to quit screwing with him."  The doorman looked horrified.  "Apparently it's an epidemic."  He walked off.  He got Xander sitting down and eating.  Xander didn't want to go to the ER.  He refused any bloodwork.  Mack got him talking about why.  When he finally got the real reason he called his ME friend to come draw some for some quiet testing that he assured only the three of them would see.  Xander relented because he wanted to know too.  And if someone spied maybe it'd help stop things.

***

On a demon realm, D'Hoffryn was watching what he had prompted to occur.  They needed to know how far the boy would really go.  When they saw the results in his bloodwork, they decided it didn't matter.  It was too dangerous to let go on.  He sent his minions out to start working on the law firm for demons.  He sent another few at the Council.  This seriously sucked but hey, the kid respected him so he might live, right?

***

Mack Wolfe looked at the antigen tests and then at his ME friend.  "This is really bad."

"Yes, it is."  She burned the papers.  She had made digital copies but the originals were destroyed.  "What are you going to do about this?"

"I think...  I'm going to see if the kid can afford a real housekeeper and bodyguard.  Someone with more training than the kid had, since he learned on the job, and then I'm going to suggest he spend the summer with my cousin.  Who has freaky things happen around him so he'll deal real well with it.  Plus he's a former Ranger so he can vet bodyguards better than I can."

"You're sending him to Jim?"

"More to Blair for a few weeks."

"Okay."  She shrugged.  "You know the kid better."

"Can you tell me what to give him for the eating of green bread?"

"Yeah, I can do that."  She got him a prescription written.  "Is he on anything?"

"He was for his eye but that just ran out."

She nodded.  "Okay."  She handed it over.  "Go fuss over him.  It might help him calm down and maybe if he talks some of that anger you noticed will calm down too.  It doesn't sound like the kid's made any friends."

"No, and his are nagging him that he should be in the house all the time, being *safe*."

"That's a horrible way to live.  Especially here in paradise."  He nodded and left.  She made sure the electronic copies were sealed with a good password.  She did not want that getting out.  Though it was something Mack could figure out if something happened to her.

***

Xander was helped into a seat at the nice restaurant he had been invited to.  "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Harris."  He nodded at the obvious helper.

"Detective Mack Wolfe.  I watch over the kid."

"That's reasonable."  He smiled.  "I have a fairly simple business proposition for him."  The waiter paused to fill water glasses then left.  "I've heard Mr. Harris has a bottle in his possession that I would very much like to own."  Xander sniffed and then drank his water, nodding slightly.  "Yes, I am half.  It is to save everyone."

"To be honest, I got it on buy one-get one free sale."  He smiled.  "But it worked.  Me holding it means that no one really wants to sacrifice me anymore."

"There is that, but there's ways around that which would mean more protection.  Including having money."

"He had money, someone stole it," Mack told him.  "We're working on getting it back for him."

"I'm prepared to pay eight billion for those two bottles."

Xander stared at him.  "To use?"

"To have destroyed."

"There's another ten around."

"Yes, but even if you owned them you have two with very loose caps and someone else may want to buy them to destroy them."

"Are you aligned with the Council?" Xander asked.

"No.  I actually loathe them for their methods.  As I heard you do?"

"I've worked with Buffy, Kendra, and Faith."

"Then you are him."

Xander grinned and nodded, taking another sip.  The waiter came back.  "Is there something like soup?  I unfortunately ate something that didn't agree with me last night," he asked.

"We have some very good chicken noodle soup," the waiter offered with a smile.

Xander grinned back.  "Please.  Some bread on the side?"

"Of course.  Garlic or regular?"

"Garlic," Mack said.  "It'll help his stomach."  Xander nodded that was good.  He ordered something simple and the businessman ordered something with pasta.  When the waiter was gone he looked at the businessman.  "That's an awful lot, even if they are dangerous."

"If the seals weren't broken on them they'd be less dangerous."

"There's another that has a loose seal," Xander admitted.  "It's got a dead Ancient thing in there too.  One has two gone, one has another one."

He considered it and wrote an email to someone.  "I'm talking to an associate who may like to buy that one from you."  He put his PDA up and smiled.  "That way we can get the truly dangerous things gone."  Xander grinned.  "Were you going to use them?"

"Wolfram and Hart is trying to get me."

"Oh!"  He nodded once and hissed.  "That's troubling and a good reason."

"That and I'm apparently the wanted candy of the universe in some ways."

"Well, some of your draw went down when you did release that on the group trying to sacrifice you."  Xander grinned.  "Though it was a good plan and I heard it saved most of them."

"They got two before Xander stopped them," Mack agreed quietly.  "They've since all been put in jail too."

"Wonderful."  Their dishes were brought and the waiter vanished again.  Mack tasted some of Xander's and then let him eat it.  "Are we that worried?"

"Considering how many times I've tripped over things that move on their own in my apartment?  Yup," Xander admitted.

"That's a good reason then.  Please, eat.  You look like you could use a few good meals."  They dug in and talked over the particulars of the deal.  He knew how to set things up so no one, not even the government, could touch his money.  Not identity thieves, no demons, nothing.  His friend finally wrote back with his offer and they agreed it would be better for everyone. Xander brought him back to his place to pick them up.  The cashiers checks had already been wired to the accounts - Mack had made sure - so things were going well.  Finally.

***

Mack looked at the boy.  He had a housekeeper now.  One who could travel with him.  She cooked really good.  She liked to make Xander eat.  Her last employer had been wheelchair bound so she wasn't going to balk at his disability or him trying to figure things out.  "All right, kid."  Xander turned off the TV to shift in his direction.  Mack sat across from him.  "Two things.  How's she working out?"

Xander grinned.  "She's amazing.  She made dinner."

"She's supposed to make you dinner."  He stared at the kid.  "The person who's handling your accounts wanted to suggest a few things."  Xander nodded.  "One being that you quit renting because it's a liability if you have to move or something happens."  Xander nodded again.  "So we're thinking about where you might want to do that."

"I like it here," he admitted.  "Not on the highway but I like it here."

Mack grinned.  "There's a few nice places around here.  Including a room for Gretchen."  Xander nodded at that idea.  "Second, there's a cousin of mine who can help you find someone to train you better. As I recently found out he has a connection to the weirder community and the academic community.  He's taken up with an Anthropologist of all people and that guy seems to know half of everyone.  We think he can help you find someone to train you easier."  Xander relaxed and grinned.  "That would give us time to find you a decent place to live and you might think about one on the mainland for hurricane season.  That would be an okay place to do that.  It's pretty safe up there.  My cousin's a detective too."

"Okay.  So a quick vacation up there?"

"Yeah, that'd be for the best.  Blair would love to help you.  He's that sort of guy."  Xander nodded.  "Anything you want in a house for sure?"

"Floors I don't slip on?"

"That'd help."

"Maybe somewhere that might be dog friendly for when and if I get a seeing eye dog?"

"That could help too."  He smiled.  "For now, Gretchen, can you travel to Cascade with him?"

"Of course."  She gave Xander a bottle of water.  "Does he have an apartment?"

"A monthly rental place."  She nodded, going to check on things.  "Would that work for you, kid?"

"I guess.  He won't put me down because of all this?"

"No."  He smiled.  "That girl at the bar was stupid, Xander.  You only have a few scars and you were protecting people when you got hurt.  It was her being shallow, not your injury."  Xander nodded, sipping his water.  "Good boy."

"Are we telling your cousin in case something comes up while I'm there?  Since it has in San Diego and then here?"

"I can slip him some information without telling him everything."  He patted him on the head, seeing the wince.  "Still?"

"Yes," he sighed.  "It's slightly better though."

"Good!"  He left them to talk about what to bring for the moment.  He called his cousin on the way back to the office.  "I'm bringing you someone who needs your new partner's help.  Long story, check your mail.  I sent his file to you a few days ago.  Yes, as in.  No, not former officer or military.  That's fine.  Call me back when you read it, Jim.  No, he needs a trainer sort.  Plus I think Blair would help him a lot.  He could use someone to talk to.  Thanks, call later, Jim."  He hung up as he pulled into his parking spot.  He hoped Blair knew someone good.  He fell outside the income guidelines at the local school's outreach center.  They wanted major money to help him.  Which Mack understood.  Too many couldn't afford it so they charged the ones that could.  With the theft from one of their people they weren't being very..helpful either.  And hey, maybe Blair could introduce Xander to some nice women.

***

Mack walked Xander into Jim's unit.  "Guys, watch out for him for me please," he told the staring detectives.  "I'm handing him to Blair for a few weeks."

"I'm not that helpless," Xander complained.

"A female arms dealer wanted to steal you last night," Mack said.  "Maybe they know some nice, normal girls, Xander."  He looked at his cousin.  "Jim, this is Xander.  Xander, this is my cousin Jim Ellison."  They shook hands.  "No Blair?"

"Twenty more.  Traffic accident by the school," Jim said.

"You guys sound very alike," Xander said.

"We're nearly twins," Mack said with a smirk for his cousin.  "It used to piss off his father when he got us mixed up."

"That's cool," Xander said with a grin of his own.  He sniffed and 'looked' around.   "Are we near the drug lockup?"

"No," Jim said.  "That's someone in the interrogation room in the next room over.  He was smoking hard when we caught him."

"Okay, then I won't expect it to smell like this all the time."  He grinned.  "That'll help me identify where I am."

"That'll work," Jim agreed.  Blair came off the elevator and came over, dropping his bag onto Jim's desk.  "Xander, this is my ride-along partner Blair.  He also takes up my spare room with a lot of very dusty books."

Xander held out a hand.  "Hi."

Blair shook it.  "Hi, Xander.  Jim shared what happened."  Xander nodded.  "How are you coping?"

"I'm... well I have friends who think I should curl up in a corner and die."

"Of the yelling that he went outside sort," Mack added.

"He got me a housekeeper who feeds me," Xander said with a smile.

"Good.  It's going to take a while before you can get back to the point of cooking for yourself," Blair agreed.

"He can?" Jim asked.

"Yeah.  As long as it's simple he'll be able to chop by feel and put things into a pan or a pot.  I know a few blind people who can," Blair said.  Xander grinned at him.  "Come on, you clearly need lunch.  Let Jim and his cousin talk.  No cane?"

"I'm still trying to learn how to use it.  That and Braille.  I pick up languages okay but they're reading ones, not spoken.  Feeling them is not going as good as spoken ones."

"That's something we can work on.  I speak a few myself."  Blair walked Xander off, one hand lightly on his arm to guide him. "Later this week I'll see if my friends have time for dinner.  Right now they're up at our school in Vancouver, Washington.  They won't be back until Saturday."

"That's cool.  I was working with the center and school in Hawaii then the housekeeper they got me stole from me."

"That happens sometimes."  He got them onto the elevator and down to his car.  "She's a classic," he excused.

"I know nothing about cars," Xander admitted.  "I used to drive.  I guess now that's Gretchen's job too."

"Probably but there's other ways to get around.  Walking is better for you anyway," he said lightly with a grin.

Xander grinned back.  "I've been jogging on a treadmill.  It doesn't usually trip me."

"That's good."  He took them to a burger place.  A guy Xander's age would be more comfortable in one.  Blair summarized the menu categories and read off what was in that one when Xander picked one.  They settled in to talk and eat.

***

Mack looked at Jim.  "He's just passed his two month anniversary of being blinded," he said quietly.  "He's a good kid.  He's very self protective.  He knows there's people who'd like to see him dead because of what he used to do and where he's from."

"I got that part of the file too.  An arms dealer?"

Mack grinned and nodded.  "Yeah.  Offered him light artillery for sex too."  Jim groaned, sitting down.  "The two that handed him to me to watch were former Marines.  They said that his last two exes scared them and their buddies who talked to them."

"Why did they send him to you?" Jim asked.

"A psychotic law firm who wants to help rule the world and a secret society out of England."  He handed over that file.  "That's also on the group that his former group helped end."

Jim read through it, giving him a strange look.  "What?"

"Yeah.  Keep going."  He sat down.

Jim read about that project and growled.  "None of the Rangers I know would've stood for that."

"At least one was a Ranger.  The last page is what a hacker I know found about personnel lists."  Jim read it and went back to growling.  Mack smiled.  "So, Xander's very self-protective."

"Great, two trouble magnets out to lunch together," one of the other detectives quipped.  Jim glared at him.  "Should you call and check on them?  Before he's taken hostage too?"

"Blair's not that bad," Jim complained.  "It was only the once."

"He's only been around you for three months, Ellison," the detective said.  "He's nearly gotten blown up twice now."  Mack laughed, shaking his head.  "Is the kid that bad?"

"He'd probably handle it or they'd want to date him.  Someone wanted to sacrifice the kid because of where he was born and the kid destroyed most of the building for them.  We're not sure *how* but we found him afterwards because of that.  Saved a few other victims too."  He looked at Jim, seeing him looking at that last page.  He looked and pointed.  "Fell into an old grave doing construction," he said quietly.

Jim nodded.  "His housekeeper?"

"Nice lady."  Mack smiled.  "Can shoot, I made sure, but is a nice older lady.  Who's a bit blue but otherwise really normal and cooks pretty good."

Jim shut the folder and handed it back.  "He needs someone who can protect him."

"He still need someone to train him," Mack pointed out.  "They can be a bodyguard at the same time if you find the right one."  He stood up.  "When the people the school in Hawaii sent him stole from him, they decided to almost shun him."

"Blair said ours has a sliding fee scale."

Mack shook his head.  "He has money.  He found a few things and sold them for a lot of money.  He also has a conservator to make sure they don't steal from him again.  We're getting back the rest of the other stuff."

"That's good."  Jim considered it.  "Where is he staying?"

"He and Gretchen are sharing a two-month rental place above the coffee shop on your street."  He smiled.  "That way he's close enough in case he needs something because another arms dealer wants to date him."

"They have three stairs and then an elevator," Jim said.

"He's learning how to get around.  He's still got some balance issues.  The physical therapist at the school was helping him with that.  I'm pretty sure Blair can find someone to help him up here."

"Probably cheaper too.  Blair knows a lot of people."  Mack smiled.  "What's going on at his apartment during those two months?"

"He's buying a house.  His conservator said it'd be better and easier.  He is former military.  He knows about that project and the law firm."

"That's fine."  He considered it.  "We can help the kid.  I'll even introduce him to a few nicer officers."  Mack smiled.  "Is he ready to date?"

"He'd like to have someone there all the time again.  It might help him a lot.  He's still got some anger over the way his friends railroaded him out of his former life.  Jerry said they moved him sedated so he couldn't complain."

"That...sucks," Jim decided was as nice as he could be about it.  "Same friends?"  Mack nodded.  "Blair's a good friend to have.  He'll get him straightened out pretty fast."

"That's what I was hoping for.  Or I'd have asked Nick since they were in the same sort of business."

"Boyle?" he asked.  Mack smirked and nodded.  "That explains a lot."

"Yes it does."  He grinned.  "Anyway, I'll be on their couch tonight to make sure there's no problems."  He nodded at the imposing African-American man in the sweater vest who walked past them.  "I'll let you know how the house search is going.  He's not asking for a lot.  Off the highway, a bit of lawn, dog and tripping guy friendly as he put it.  Enough room for Gretchen and maybe the trainer if they want.  I also suggested the kid find somewhere that's nice for hurricane season."

"That's reasonable with how everything goes during storm season," Jim agreed.  "LA?  It'd be closer."

"He's from three hours outside there.  The law firm has a main office there too."

"Okay, two strikes then.  Hell, I'll talk to Boyle myself to see if there's a safer area so the kid won't have to do that."

"That might help."  He shook his hand.  "Let me go rest.  The kid had his second flight and there was turbulence so he spent it babbling about stuff in Latin and clawing my arm up."  He left.

Jim called someone, walking off to talk to them in private.  "Nick Boyle please?  Jim Ellison.  He'll know."  He got onto the elevator and went down to his truck.  "Nick, long time no hear.  No, I have a reason.  Mack, my cousin in Hawaii, sent me a kid to help for a few months.  Newly blind.  From near LA.  Does things like you do according to Mack."  He listened.  "Xander Harris."  He listened to him look the kid up.  "He has what?  Well, that's probably what he sold to make sure he had enough money to protect himself from a stupid law firm and a secret society in England.  Talking to Blair.  Is he trouble?"

He listened.  "Faulty records.  He was in the group that stopped them.  Mack has his full file.  There's some stuff that I want to disprove."  He rattled off Mack's cellphone number.  "That's his.  He said he was going to talk to you about the boy if I my new ride along partner couldn't help him.  Thanks, man."  He hung up and considered it.  Then he called another contact to see what they knew about the kid.  With that difference in the profiles, one had to be wrong.  Which one he wasn't sure and he didn't want to trust his guide to someone who might hurt him.

What he found out did not amuse him.  Or Nick when he shared it.

***

Blair smiled at Jim as he walked into the apartment.  "I got Xander back to his place."

"That's good.  I stopped over there.  He... Chief, he does some really strange, weird, dangerous things."

"I know about demons, Jim," he said dryly.  "I've seen many of them over the years I traveled."  Jim relaxed.  "The fact that the kid used to hunt the bad ones doesn't really surprise me.  Even Naomi wouldn't go into his hometown.  She went on a cleansing retreat after reading about it.  She made sure we never got anywhere near that town even if it was the closest place to sleep."

Jim nodded.  "So he's good?"

"He's good."  He wiped his hands off.  "Xander's group was the protection society in town, Jim.  They took out things that were very bad.  Mostly that were attacking people.   I asked him about his local PD and he said they did *nothing*."

"From their stats, they did less than that.  Twenty-six percent death rate."

"That's with them working to bring it down."

"Damn it."

"Yup."  He grinned.  "Mack seems pretty nice."

"He is.  I called a person we heard deals in the strange stuff too."

"That's fine.  I called one I know."  He grinned.  "Is yours in San Fran?"  Jim nodded.  "Then maybe they know each other and can talk."  He got back to fixing dinner.  "How did the rest of your day go?"

"No cases.  I told Simon about the kid and let him see what Mack sent through the mail.  That way if something happens Simon knows that it's not going to be normal."

"Good idea.  His last girlfriend tortured unfaithful men for over a thousand years."  Jim moaned, going upstairs to change clothes.  Blair grinned.  He loved freaking Jim out sometimes.  Jim was just so...straight he needed to be bent at times.  It'd do him good.

***

Xander opened the door at the knock.  "Do we know you?" he asked.

"I'm Nick Boyle, this is Alex Moreau.  We're in the same business as you were working after-hours.  Can we come in, Mr. Harris?"  Xander got out of the way.  They walked in and Xander shut the door.  Nick looked at the slightly blue looking housekeeper.  "Ma'am," he said with a nod.

She smiled.  "Xander's a very nice boy, people.  Don't upset him."

"Why would they?" Xander asked.

"Xander, they're from another group that's about as old as the Council but not as evil."

"Oh, sweet."  He turned to face them.  "So, what's wrong?"

"You know Jim Ellison?" Alex asked, sitting down.

"I met him yesterday, why?"  He sat down.  "Please, sit."  Nick sat.  "Let me guess, someone freaked about one of the unauthorized profiles done on me?"

"Yup," Nick said with a smile.  This kid was a smartass.  "And that you have some ...artifacts in your possession."

"I do.  They're keeping the Council and Wolfram and Hart far away from me."

"You sold a few?" Alex asked.

"Mack and I made sure they didn't want to use them."

"That's good," Nick decided.  "Can we go over what's in both your profiles to make a better one?  Our group would like one.  We don't trust the Council."

"They tried to kill me a while back," Xander admitted.  "Do CPR one time and it freaks them out."  Gretchen walked off giggling.  "Can we have something to drink, Gretchen?"

"Sure, Xander."  She got them iced tea and left them alone to talk.  She didn't need to know.  She knew what was in the demon underground's profile of the boy.  The Legacy was in for a warping talk.  It'd do them good, make them resettle on the side of the light again.

***

Nick Boyle walked into the command center at the Legacy House two days later, putting down three thick folders.  "Half right, slightly right, and his real one from the demon underground."  Derek Rayne, his boss, looked over that one.  He also scowled at things.  "He's the one that did CPR to create two slayers."

"Which is why the Council has a price on his head I'm sure," Derek agreed in a Dutch accent.  "Anything of note on those artifacts?"

"Yeah.  He doesn't want to have to use them but he has some higher demons on his tail."  Derek stared at him.  "That law firm we have as 'do not touch, too dangerous'?  They want him as a sacrifice because he was born and bred in Sunnydale."

"Oh, dear."  He went back to reading.  "Are they safe?"

"Sitting on a shelf.  He dusts them for his housekeeper, who is a harmless lower demon.  Well, half demon but I'm pretty sure he realizes that.  He told me he lived with a vampire for a while too because the watcher out there needed to get him out of his house."

Derek shook his head to clear that thought.  "That's nearly insanity."

"The kid...  I talked with one of his friends when they called.  The boy just walked off shaking his head and muttering in Latin."

"Then he does research?"

"Not now.  He's blind.  He could use that software the house in Cairo developed."

"I'll see if that can be passed on."  He finally had to put the file down and take something for his headache.  "Which one is the most correct?"

"The demon underground one," Alex said as she joined them.  "I wanted to mother the boy, Derek.  He could use more support.  His friends basically rode him out of town to supposedly keep him safe.  They didn't even hear that the Council tried to wetworks the kid in San Diego."

"I heard some of their people had been arrested," Derek said.

"Xander and his caregiver at the time shot them," Nick said.

Derek nodded.  "Is he staying involved in the paranormal community?"

"I don't think they'd let him go," Alex said.  She sat down.  "He's a lot like Nick only doesn't have a Mustang and dates more deadly women."

"I gave him Philip's number so they could talk.  I think the kid could use some support from someone who knows and can talk to him about his bad urges to want to hunt.  Plus help him get over some of the past traumas."  Derek stared at him.  "You don't just suddenly jump into hunting demons even if you grow up around them, Derek."

"What percentage of blind is he?"

"Fully.  He was taking on a demon that had acidic sweat and they didn't know that.  The Council's books didn't say that," Alex said more quietly.  "It burned his corneas and he had a lot of other burns that're healed but scarred."

"He said the specialist in Hawaii said not even a transplant would help," Nick agreed.  "He also apparently threw up a challenge to the Sunnydale hospital because of the high death rate out there."

"Xander said he was surprised he lasted a week, especially with a few days sedated, but they had their tamed vampire guarding him," Alex said.

"How do you tame a vampire?" Derek asked.

"The project his group ended put a control chip in his head so he can't eat," Nick said.  "That and what they did to their own people were probably the nicest of their actions.  I asked someone about that project and what I got back disgusted me so much I wanted to hunt them down, Derek."  Derek nodded at that information. "Ellison is making sure that his new trainer is former military if possible.  Especially after the serial killer wanted to go out with him."

Alex snorted, shaking her head.  "He was dating the vengeance demon over women scorned, Nick.  A serial killer was probably nicer."

"Anyanka was there?" Derek asked.

"She got fired," Nick said with a grin.  "So she and Xander took up together."

"Oh, dear."

"She's fully human," Alex said with a smile of her own.  "She called to complain about living on her own being hard."

"And how she missed all the sex," Nick added.

Derek shook his head.  "That is also interesting.  Is there one in the hunting community that could be his trainer?"

"If he suddenly went deaf, yes," Alex said.  "I don't know anyone who can teach him about being blind.  I called all my contacts for names."

"Me too," Nick agreed.  "Military and not.  The Council is trying to get everyone to not help him if they could.  Of course, we also heard that the Council had someone do a suicide bomb in their boardroom."  She nodded she had heard the same thing.  "No one's touched the library but the artifact room, the slayer records room, all those got blown up for some strange reason by their own people."

Derek reached over and tapped in a phone number, getting a video picture a minute later.  "There was problems with the Council?"

"Yes.  How did you hear?" the head of the London house demanded.

Nick leaned over and waved.  "They were trying to screw with a hunter that just got blinded."

"Oh, crap.  That whole Harris thing?"  Derek nodded.  "Is he going evil?"

"No, he's trying to protect himself since they tried to kill him again," Nick said.

Alex took the keyboard to type something in.  "That's his correct profile as far as we can tell."

The head of the London house followed that link and hummed, then cleared his throat.  "Does he have those?"

"He sold three to people who wanted to destroy them," Nick said.  "All three had broken seals.  The rest he dusts so his housekeeper doesn't have to.  Between the Council and Wolfram and Hart...."  The head of the London house sneered.  "They want the boy badly as a sacrifice."

"I'd like to see them destroyed like the Council was."

"The demons too.  Because they don't want to see Harris decide that's the best way to protect himself with the other eight bottles."

"There's twelve," Derek said.

"One's been broken for a few years," Alex said.

"That's charming."  They made notes of that in the system.  "The other three were destroyed?"

"Yes.  They were sent up on a satellite that got shot into the sun."

"Even better," the head of the London house complained.  "What does the boy need?  I don't know of anyone who can teach him how to do the things he has to learn now."

"He could use that translator software out of Cairo," Alex said with a smile.  "He knew a few written ones that aren't translated into Braille."

"I can see if that can be passed on.  They have it under protection for the most part."  He made that note.  "Anything else?"

"His trainer needs to know about the underground and be trained to protect himself and the kid," Nick said.  "He nearly went out with a serial killer before Detective Ellison stepped in."

"Also, that's where Naomi's son is," Alex said with a smile.  "Ellison's cousin was protecting Xander in Hawaii and introduced them so Blair could help him find someone."

"Interesting."

"He could also probably use a good therapist if he doesn't stay around Blair," Nick said.  "Those girls are bitches.  I don't use that word lightly but I've seen nicer cannibals."

Derek nodded.  "The Watcher there?"

"Agreed they needed to railroad the boy out of his old life to protect him," Alex said.

"On one hand that does seem reasonable," the head of the London house said.  "On the other, he'd probably have more people there who might help him."  They nodded.

"They complained Xander had to move to Hawaii to protect himself, they had gotten him out of the house, and now he was in Washington state," Alex said.

"Ah, that sort of girl."  He nodded.  "I heard the slayer was a bit mean."  Nick held up two fingers.  "How?"

"CPR.  Which is one reason why the Council hates him."  Nick grinned.  "The other's in a jail cell for a friendly fire incident."  That got a low moan and a nod from Derek.  "She's in this state though.  By the way, Rosenburg is showing signs of a magic addiction.  Xander made excuses for her when she accidentally gave him puppy ears by long distance."

"That shall end," Derek said.  "I'll comb my contacts to see if there's someone who could help him learn how to cope.  It does sound like setting him and Philip up to discuss things would be helpful to both as well."

The head of the London house nodded.  "If anyone can give the boy the support he needs it's Father Philip."  He hung up and went to have a large drink.  Then he went back to reading that profile.  It was his job to make sure the boy wouldn't be a threat to the Legacy.

Derek looked at them.  "Have you talked to Philip?"  Nick nodded.  "Did he agree?"

"He called and talked to him."  He smiled.  "He said he wants to meet Xander too."  He stood up.  "He's planning on a house over here for hurricane season and one in Hawaii for the rest of the year probably."

"Goot."  Nick and Alex left him to think and go back over that profile again.  He could see why the boy had taken an extreme step to protect himself.  He might have as well.

***

Xander met with Blair's friend, smiling at her.  "Hi."

"Hi."  She shook his hand.  "How long?"

"Just over two months now.  I think I'm coping amazingly well all told."

"Good."  She led him to a couch.  "No cane?"

"I'm still trying to learn how to use it."

"That's reasonable.  I was born blind and it took me a few years to get used to one too."  She patted his hand and settled in to talk with the boy.  Blair was right, he could use some support from his new group.  He had no idea how to do a few things.  Once Blair had sent him home she relaxed.  "He seems a bit... spoiled," she told her friend.

"He's not.  He's had some rough spots.  He's still really angry with some of his former friends."

"I got that part.  He has a housekeeper?"

"He needed one.  He had one through the school in Hawaii and she stole from him."

"Ah, so they got vindictive."  Blair made an agreeing sound.  "No cane?"

"He's got some balance problems.  I've taught him some about how to use it but he whacks way too hard and he misjudges his area of clearance."

"That's reasonable.  I did the same thing."

"I'm trying to find someone who can help him learn that stuff.  That's what he really needs.  Though I'd like for them to be protective considering Jim thundered up to arrest one of his dates."

"What did they do?" she asked, smiling some.

"They killed four people."

"Oh."  She grimaced.  "How charming."

"Xander's always drawn the bad girl society according to him."

"Then a bodyguard might be handy, yes.  Can he afford one?"

"Yeah."

"Good."  She considered it.  "I'm not sure if the school would know anyone like that.  Your mother?"

"I called.  She hasn't answered yet."

"Pity.  Naomi knows nearly everyone."

"I had some friends that were in slightly the same field he used to be in up to talk to them.  They're asking their friends as well."  His phone rang.  "Who are you?" he muttered, answering it.  "Blair Sandburg."  He listened.  "No, Miss Rosenburg, I introduced him to a friend who is also blind and they chatted but Xander went home to nap.  Yes, up here.  He'll go back to Hawaii in a few weeks.  They're working on his place so it's more friendly to his special needs."  His friend snorted and shook her head.  "Why?"  He listened to her babble.  "No, I don't think that's necessary.  If you want to send them to him, he might not mind.  We're working on getting him a translator that would read it to him."

He smirked at the wall.  "No, I don't think that's a good idea.  Just send him the books and it'll give him something to do.  Miss Rosenburg, I know a few blind people.  Most of them are very competent, work outside the home, and manage their daily lives very well.  Xander will grow into that as he learns what he needs to know.  I'm fairly certain he'll be just fine."  She hung up.  He put his phone back.  "He should be at home protecting himself," he mimicked.  She burst out cackling.  "He can't cook, he's blind!"

"That's not an excuse," she agreed with a smile.  "No wonder you want to introduce him to real people with real lives."

"The boy could use some really good friends.  One of the people I called up knew of a priest that would want introduced to him about their former jobs.  So they're working on things.  He's...  he's a bit damaged from all that but I think having a mentor he can ask questions to about problems he's having would help."

"I think it helps most of us.  I had my teachers growing up.  He's too grown for that but he could use a few good teachers."  She reached over and he moved his hand so she could pat it.  "He'll be fine, Blair.  And think of all the vacation time you can sneak in going to check on him."

Blair grinned.  "That's a bonus I won't take for granted.  I like the kid even if he was living in Alaska."

She shivered.  "Much too chilly for my tastes."  He laughed and got them some coffee, settling in to go over what Xander really needed to learn first.

***

Xander woke up to the feeling of someone staring at him, blinking at whoever it was.  "Am I that cute?" he asked.

"No but I am wondering if you're useful to my plans."  He left the body he had been possessing and entered the boy's.  No matter how much he struggled the demon would win.  Then he found himself thrown out.  "Bah, you're useless to our side."

Xander stared at him.  "Not really."  He threw the knife under his pillow at it, making it shriek and fade out.  Xander panted, sitting up holding his head.  Gretchen knocked.  "Possessing sort of demon, Gretchen."  She nodded, getting him something to calm him down.  He took notes of what he had heard while they were fighting.  Including a few names.  "Do we know them?"

"One's a hunter," she said quietly.  "I have no idea how you'd contact them."

"For that, I usually ask Cordy to look them up for me."

"She's having problems this week," she reminded him.  "Something about a mystical pregnancy?"

"All pregnancies are mystical.  Some are just caused by higher beings and some aren't."  She swatted him but she was smiling.  "Okay.  Let's see if we can look them up then.  That sucker had ideas."

"That's probably a sad thing to hear."  She got his laptop, which had a browser that was modified to read things to him.  He got to work locating the hunter's network and found something.  One who even had an email address.  Xander carefully crafted the email to send out to them.  He didn't put his name because what he'd heard of the hunters, most of them were paranoid and might attack him or Gretchen.  Though he thought it was sweet how everyone was trying to avoid telling him that she was a half-demon.  He knew, he could smell it on her.  He needed to talk to Blair and see if his hyena senses picking up were normal.

***

Jim was out with Blair and Xander at the grocery store and he was noticing something about the kid.  "Xander, I know that most blind people have their other senses start to compensate.  Are you noticing that?"

"They've always been a bit more sensitive," he evaded.

"Any idea why?" Blair asked. Xander leaned over to hiss in his ear.  Jim, being sense gifted, heard what he said and gave the boy a strange look.  Blair stared at him.  "We're doing tests to see how much that is," he decided.

"Sure," Xander sighed.  "Will it help me get around better?"

"Yup," Blair said.

"That could help then."

"It's good you have a willing victim, Chief.  I hate sensory tests," Jim quipped.  Blair batted him on the arm.  They finished picking out vegetables while Blair told Xander about some tribes he had worked with.  In the ice cream, which Xander had insisted he needed, they found a problem.  Well, two problems.  One was the guy cleaning up a spill who was orange and had a head fin.  He saw Xander, shrieked, and ran.

"I'm not mean today," Xander called.  "I'd never bother something peaceful either."

"That's very odd," a female voice said.

Blair winced.  "Hi, Naomi."  He smiled at her.  "Xander, this is my mom, Naomi."

"Hi," he said, holding out a hand.

She shook it and patted it.  "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine.  Why?"

"You seem really angry, dear."

Xander stared at her.  "Don't call me pet names please.  It irritates me to no end."  Jim laughed.  He had set that off earlier.  "Second, if I have an anger issue it's probably justified.  Thank you though.  Do you need your son?  Jim can help me get stuff home for my housekeeper if you need Blair."

"No, that's fine.  I'm sure Blair's doing good with your nutrition needs.  Though I'm not sure why you need so much meat."

"Because I'm a carnivore and I'm still getting over the crapload of acid burns I got a few months back.  Beyond that, I'm twenty-three and vegetables are for hippies and vegan chicks."  He walked off with Jim.  "I should introduce you to Tara," he told Jim.  "That way she knows more guys who are only scary against stupid people like her father."

"If she shows up, I'd like to meet her.  You've said she was nice."

Xander nodded.  "She's very sweet.  Ice cream."  He touched the nearest freezer door.  "That's too warm for ice cream."

"That's frozen bread dough."

"Can you grab me some cheesy garlic bread?"

"Sure.  Chief, get Xander some ice cream?"

"What flavor?"

"Chocolate with stuff in it.  Not Rocky Road."

"French silk," he decided after seeing what was there and wasn't freezer burned.  They checked out and drove Xander home.  Then they went home.  Naomi was there waiting on them.  "Naomi, don't nag Xander.  He's still in transition.  He's still trying to make things work and get used to his new life."

"Fine.  Even if the boy is fairly mean."

Jim shook his head.  "He seems pretty normal to me."

"He's from Sunnydale, Naomi.  He was helping protect the town," Blair said quietly.  Her eyes went wide.  "So don't nag him."

"I won't."  She helped him put up what they had bought.  "Meat, really?"

"Yes, I need meat," Jim said.  "Man cannot live by vegetables alone.  That's why we have meat eating teeth."  He turned on the news to see what was going on during his day off.

Blair nodded.  "We do."  He put things up and then settled in to talk to his mother.  She would let him help Xander and probably would help him as well if he asked.

***

A few days later, Xander waited until Naomi was had left them alone to pull Blair aside.  "She reminds me a lot of Willow," he said quietly.  "Which is freaking me out."

Blair smiled.  "She's set in her ways."

"She's downright manipulative of them," Xander corrected.  "She's still trying to convince me I don't need protein to heal, I can get all that I need from beans, which make me puke, and that it'll all be all right in the world."

"She doesn't know what you've seen, Xander," he said quietly.  "You hit it pretty well on the head when you said she was a vegan hippie chick.  She pretty much is.  She still protests too.  She nags Jim about the same things."

"In that case, she might have the right because she's his future son-in-law or something."

"No, man, not close."

"Uh-huh.  Then he gets sweaty around you for some other reason?"

"Maybe.  I'll meditate to that thought."

"She told me I had to detach with love about my last life, Blair.  I kept myself from suggesting a trip to the local demon bar."

"We've met demons in the past," Blair said.  He gave him a light shoulder nudge.  "It'll be okay.  Do you like rum balls?"

"I don't drink."

"I'll have her make chocolate chip ones instead."  He hugged Xander, getting hugged back.  "Go rest.  I know she can be like a whirlwind."

"She was folding my underwear."

"I'll talk to her, Xander.  I know she's not dangerous enough for you."  He let Xander go back inside then went to his own house.  "Naomi, you frightened him."

"How did I do that?"  She held out a spoon.  "Did I put in too much rum?"

He tasted and nodded.  "Make those for Simon.  Xander's parents drank."  He leaned against a counter to watch her work.  "He has two very grumpy, cranky, spoiled female friends, Mom.  He dates dangerous girls.   You were folding his underwear."

"It's clear his housekeeper wasn't doing a good enough job."

"Naomi, leave him alone," he said.  "Please.  He's still in pain from things.  He's not going to be able to detach at all yet.  He's still got the urges to go protect people."  She stared at him, spoon above the mixing bowl.  "He wasn't an officer but he was helping protect his town.  He spent about five years doing that."  She shuddered.  "So lay off Xander.  He likes meat, he's like most boys and hates vegetables.  He doesn't need nagged, and Gretchen is doing a fantastic job with him.  She's helped him adjust to a normal life while adjusting to this new disability of his.  Okay?"

"Fine."  She huffed.  "Do you think he'll like these?"

"Simon will.  Xander's favorite thing is chocolate."  He smiled.  "With two drunk parents, it might set off a flashback or something."

"I guess I can see that.  Clearly some parents weren't worthy of the title."  Jim walked in.  "Bad day being a thug?" she asked.

He stared at her.  "If I'm a jack booted thug, that gives me a good reason to boot you off the balcony, Naomi.  It is not the day to start."  He looked at Blair.  "Where's the kid?"

"He went up to rest just a few minutes ago.  Why?"  He called.  "Gretchen, Jim just came in wanting to know if Xander was all right?"  He smiled.  "That's great.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "He cleaned off his bed with her help and laid down for a nap."

"Thank God."  He got a beer and went outside.  Blair followed.  "Remember Brackett?"

"The asshole from a few days ago?"  Jim nodded.  "He escaped?"

"He sent me a letter asking me if Xander was like me."  He sipped his beer.

"No, you and Xander are somewhat alike but not on that level."

Jim grimaced and took another drink.  "It freaked Simon out."

"He's met Xander."

"He thinks Xander's a bit damaged but overall nice.   He did wonder the same thing though."

"No, I'm helping Xander with other things."  He patted him on the arm.  "He decided Naomi was a lot like his friend Willow."

"I heard from her recently and yes, she is."  They shared a look.  "Mack said he found a nice place.  He wanted to know what Xander thought about tile floors since Xander's apparently lost his phone again."

"Gretchen had it because she lost hers.  I don't think he'd care as long as he wouldn't slip and fall on it.  All one level?"

"Two stairs up to the front door and one down from the kitchen to the living room."  He finished his beer.  "It's poker night."

"Simon said he'd host."

"That might help.  What is she doing with the rum?"

"Making Simon rum balls."

"Huh."  He shook his head.  "By the way, Xander's still in pain."

"He doesn't want to take something too harsh and he hasn't responded to the herbal stuff I've had him try.  Are we talking right now?"

Jim let his senses roam up the block to where the kid was sleeping, with a window open.  He nodded.  "Yeah, that throbbing came back I think.  He's clearly having a headache."  Blair sighed but nodded, calling someone to pick up something else that might work.  "Blair, see if the spirit guides might like him?" he asked quietly.  Blair stared at him because Jim liked to ignore his spirit guide most of the time.  "The last two times I've seen mine, it's been around Xander."

"Then I'll see.  Which gives me an idea."  He added something to the order and left to pick it up.  He brought it to Xander and let him try that.  The tea for those who went on dream quest visions helped.  Blair smiled, tucking him in.  Then he went home.  "Vision quest tea."

Jim smiled.  "That's got a nasty taste so he won't get hooked."

"All natural so he won't anyway."  Blair smiled before going to his room to meditate.  He needed to talk to his spirit guide to see if there was a reason they liked Xander.  He wasn't a sentinel and being spirit possessed might not be the reason.

Jim got another beer and settled in to watch the reruns of the last basketball game.  Naomi was fussing at things in the kitchen but that was what she did as far as he knew.  Though the rum balls smelled really strong.  He'd bring those to poker night instead of chips.

***

Blair blinked as Xander turns and punches someone.  "Xander?" he asked.

"Stalkers," he growled.

"Okay.  Yours or mine?"

Xander turned his head in his direction.  "I can't tell.  He's been humming that we're pretty together for the last ten blocks though."

"Then that's probably a good reason to hit him, yes."  He moved the boy so he could look at him.  They were outside the station.  "Can you go get someone to arrest him?"

Xander used his cane to find his way to the doorway and opened it.  He felt.  No air conditioning so there had to be double doors.  He found that one and opened it.  "Guys, Blair Sandburg said to please come arrest the guy I just hit for following us for ten blocks muttering about how good we'd look when he forced us to do porn together."  An officer groaned but walked him back out there.  The man was complaining he was admiring, not wanting to capture them.  "Asshole, I may be blind but my hearing is *just* fine."  The man squeaked.  "Now, want to go explain that to Ellison?  I'm sure the nice officer can find him."

"He's probably on his way down," Blair quipped.  Sure enough, Jim walked out a minute later.  "Hi, Jim."

"Hi, Jim," Xander quipped with a grin.

"Xander, Sandburg."  He glared at the man.  "You wanted to do what to him?"

"Nothing!  I didn't know he was blind!  That ruins all my plans."

Xander hit him again.  "Just because I can't see doesn't mean I'm not fantastic in bed.  Remember, plenty of people play with blindfolds and it gets them off.  I can do it even better now."  He huffed off.  "I smell pretzels.  Blair?"

"Sure," he agreed. "I've got your wallet, Xander."  He followed him.  He smiled at his friend.  "You're right.  Being blind doesn't make you any worse in bed than you were before. It might even make you better because now you have to concentrate on the other's body even more."  Xander blushed but nodded.  "We'll try to set you up with someone nice, Xander.  You could use a nice girl."

"Are you someone's grandmother?" he quipped.

"Yup, yours."  He patted him again and got them pretzels, and Jim one since he probably had missed lunch for that car chase they had heard about.  They walked back.  "You're getting better with the cane."

"I still feel like I'm going to tip over."

"I know.  We'll work on that later."  He handed Jim his.  "I bought you one."

"Thanks, Sandburg.  He had tranquilizer darts."  Xander snorted, shaking his head and taking a bite.  "He's very sorry he decided you having no sight meant you were worthless in bed, Xander."

"I'd show him how fantastic I am but I'm not into kidnapping role play."  He sniffed around.  "I smell Naomi's perfume."  He walked off, tapping his cane while he ate with his free hand.

"Xander, twenty feet to the right for the crosswalk," Blair called.  Xander nodded, working on that.  "Cab right next to it."  Xander grinned and waved.  He found the door of the cab and got in, heading off to go home before Naomi could nag him again.  Blair looked at Jim.  "Why did he want to kidnap us?"

"He thought you and Xander would look hot together."

"Not my scene."  They went inside.

Jim shook his head at Naomi.  "He went home."  They got onto the elevator and she wasn't fast enough to follow.  "She's still trying to get him to detach with love from his last life?"

"Yup.  She followed him when he went out last night to a demon bar.  She had friends in there too but none of them spilled about him.  Though she did see someone pinch Xander and him beat them."

"Well, maybe next time."  They got off the elevator and walked to interrogation.  "He singing the 'I'm a bad boy' tune yet?" he joked to the watching detectives.

"No, more the 'he's ruined for my purposes' song," one quipped back.  "I personally told him the kid was probably hell in bed with the way the assassin last month drooled to get him back but apparently he's picky."

"This one's pathetic," Blair said.  He went in there to goad the guy into confessing why he was going to kidnap them.  The guy got a bit stupid staring at him so that was very helpful.  It also let Blair finish his pretzel before it got too cold.  The guy was paying more attention to his mouth than what he was saying so that helped a lot.  They found out about his nice internet business and where he did it from before he realized he had said a thing while staring at Blair's lips.

On the other side of the glass Jim smirked at his boss.  "I should let Xander go out to club."

"Your stats are already great, let the rest of us go with the kid," the other detective complained.  "I need higher stats to get a raise, Ellison."

Simon Banks, captain over their madness, shook his head.  "No using the kid as bait."  He walked off to call a DA to get the guy into jail as soon as possible and get a search warrant.

***

Xander heard the phone and no one answering it so he got up and stumbled toward the living room, feeling for doorways.  He found it and the phone a minute later.  "Hello?"  He smiled.  "Hi, Mack."  He searched until he found a couch and sat down.  "Really?  Pretty?"  He listened to him tell him about his new house.  "It's sturdy, right?"  He nodded.  "That's great.  Tiles?  Slick ones?  Oh, even better.  That little bit of texture will be really welcome.  Was it owned by someone with problems before?"  He grinned.

"That's great news, yeah.  Thank you for finding that for me.  No, I'm kinda driving them a bit nuts because the bad girl society is back.  Not really, no luck in finding me someone to help me learn that stuff either.  Thanks, Mack. Yeah, we're here.  Well, I'm here.  I'm not totally sure where Gretchen is.  Yup, have a good night and thank you."  He hung up.  "Dude, your breath stinks," he noted.  "I know damn well you're not my housekeeper so quit trying to lurk."

"Good senses," a familiar voice said.  Xander lashed out and connected but he got pushed back onto the couch.  "Relax, Harris.  I'm here to make sure you're all right."

"What did you do to my housekeeper?"

"Just knocked her out.  Some gas, nothing harmful."

"It had better not, Finn."

"Do you really think I'd do that?"

"Yup."

Riley snorted.  "I have changed."

Xander gave him an impatient look.  "Why did you break into my apartment to stare at me while I was asleep?"

"I was about to wake you up so we could talk when your phone rang.  Mack?"

"A detective who was helping me find somewhere good to live."

"Interesting.  A few people have been looking into some records of ours."

"The guys that Willow handed me to were Marines.  They had a full file pulled on me."

"Oh."  He nodded.  "Okay, that explains them.  Why is a paranormal group doing it?"

"Because they're anti-Council sorts.  They heard I had scared a good portion of the demon community and wanted to know how and why."

"Do we know anything about them?"

"About as old.  Deal with a lot more of the possessing sort of demons."

"Huh.  Interesting.  We'll have to look them up.  On the side of the Light?"

"Yeah."  He shifted, getting comfortable.  "So, how's the spoiled blonde thing?"

"She's fine.  She's confused.  She doesn't understand why you're so angry with them."

"Tara?"

"Um...  No one told you Tara died?"

"No."

"Oh, crap.  Yeah, right after Warren tried to shoot Buffy.  He snuck up on her to try again."

"Why wasn't I told?" Xander asked calmly.

"I guess they didn't want to risk you coming back into town for the funeral."

"Slug the bitches for me."

"I can tell them you're mad but I can't beat Buffy sparring, Xander.  You know that."

"I have the feeling the ones I've been talking to could."  Riley growled.  "Mack handed me to a former Ranger, now a detective, up here."

"Huh.  Which one?"

"Ellison."  He felt Riley flinch.  "He's up the road actually.  So, why else did you show up?"

"We wanted to know about that and what you did to scare everyone."

Xander got up and got a bottle off the shelf.  He felt and counted.  "Where's the other one?"

"No idea what you're talking about."

"Riley, these are pretty dangerous artifacts that could pretty well destroy everything."  The door was kicked in and Jim came in with his gun drawn.  Blair was behind him.  "Hi, Jim.  This is Captain Riley Finn, who was dating Buffy.  He has one of the bottles."

"Sandburg, search him."  Blair came in to search him, finding it and putting it back.  "Xander, sit.  Blair."  They got out of Jim's way.

"I decided that I wanted to be a Ranger after hearing about you," Riley said.

"Too bad your project disgraced the uniform," Jim said.

"That wasn't my doing and I turned against them."

"He did," Xander agreed.  "After he found out they had tampered with him."

"I did realize that what we were doing was wrong," Riley said firmly, glaring at the younger man.

"It took you over a year to realize that?  Dude, you so need to talk to Blair's mom."  Blair gave him a hug so he calmed down.  "Why else did you show up, Riley?"

"To check on you for the girls.  To see why people were in the files, and to see what you had done.  Since I've done all that I can head home."

Jim snorted.  "Fat chance."  Riley attacked and Jim beat him pretty badly.  "Weak and pathetic.  Clearly Rangers were better in my day."  Blair had already called for backup and was checking Xander over.  Jim went in to check Gretchen.  She was sleeping but sounded normal.  "Xander, any idea what this is?"

"No.  Back in Sunnydale they didn't gas, they tazed."

"Crap."  Blair came in and figured it out.  They let her sleep it off and Blair stayed with them while Jim did the paperwork to arrest Riley.  They really needed to find Xander a bodyguard and trainer sort.  Before someone else wanted to date the kid or own him.

***

Mack Wolfe showed up the next morning, staring at the man Jim was watching.  "Who's he?"

"Captain Riley Finn."

"I saw his name in some files."  They shared a look and Mack grinned.  "I found someone, maybe, who can do the bodyguarding stuff but has no idea about the blind thing."

"That could help."  He looked at the prisoner again.  "He said he wanted to become a Ranger after reading about me."

"He disgraced the uniform."  Mack patted him on the back.  "Blair with him?"

"Xander went with him to his office to get some tactile work in."

"It's good for him."

"Is the new house nice?"

"Very nice.  I'd live there."  Jim smiled.  Simon Banks strolled in.  "Morning."

"Jim, Jim's cousin."  He nodded and looked in the room.  "This one?"

"Part of the mess that Xander's former group stopped," Jim said.  "He showed up, gassed the kid's housekeeper, and then settled in for a talk."

"Charming," Simon said sarcastically.  "Let's hope they let him go to jail.  The kid?"

"With Sandburg."

Simon looked at him.  "Is that wise with the trouble those two get into?"  Mack snickered, shaking his head.  "I take it you've seen it?"

"I've seen who wants to date the kid," he said with a smile.

Jim nodded.  "We're trying to keep him and Blair's mother apart.  Though he did suggest she should talk to Captain Finn about what his group did and why it took him a year to realize torturing other species was wrong."

Simon shuddered.  "She'd preach more than some ministers I've heard."  He walked off shaking his head.  "Check on the two trouble magnets."

Jim called.  "Blair, tell Xander Mack's here."  He listened.  "Why is there an alarm going off?  Oh, in the library's collection.  Not a robbery is good.  No, just stay out of trouble, Chief."  He hung up and shook his head.  "Two of Naomi's friends tried to steal a native piece of artwork to give back."

Mack patted him on the back.  "Xander has a banana tree in his yard."  They walked off together.  Blair's automatic call of 'we're okay' an hour later got Jim to groan and head off for the college.  Mack went with him because it was probably Xander's dating committee.  Those sort took backup.

***

Mack talked to the person that had been recommended for the kid.  He wasn't who he'd pick.  He was a bit too tough.  "The kid's twenty-three."

"Then it's high time for him to get used to things," the man said.

"He's only been blind for three months."  The man groaned.  "It was an acid attack while he was trying to stop something trying to hurt others."  Mack stared at him.  "Also, Xander's not coddled.  He was working construction before this happened.  He wants to be independent, he's trying really hard to work his way back to it."

"I get that."  He considered it.  "Does he know Braille?  I can't teach him that."

"No.  He's still working on how to use the cane."

"Dog?"

"Some year soon.  He'd like a dog, especially if it'd play with him."  Mack smiled.  "I like the kid but he dates some evil women."

The guy grunted.  "Sounds like someone I've heard stories about.  Where's the kid from?"

"By LA."

"Yup, that's him."  He sighed.  "There's a military 'no touch' order on him."

"Why?  I didn't find that."

"We don't know who put it on but it went on the other day.  Something about commandos trying to get the kid back?"

"He helped stop something that was torturing people.  Some Rangers were involved."

The guy snorted, shaking his head.  "That figures."  He stood up.  "I know some people that might be able to help.  Is he local here?"

"Moving back to Hawaii."

"I'll keep that in mind and ask around for you.  How much self-defense will he need?"

"We have to keep pulling arms dealers off him."

"Crap, he is the one I heard rumors about," he muttered as he walked off.  He called his last boss, who was with Wolfram and Hart.  Then he called a buddy to warn him that the kid needed him badly. If not him, his ex wife.  The kid really needed some help and they had a child that was blind so they had gotten one kid through all the training.  It could only help this one.

***

Mack walked Xander up the walkway to his house.  "Two steps," he said quietly.  Xander nodded, tapping them with his cane before walking up them carefully.  "Still off balance?"  Xander nodded.  "We'll figure that out too."  He handed him the key card.  "This is your key and there's a keypad next to the handle."  He showed him where it was and then the keypad.  "Insert, tap the code," he said, showing it to him.  "Then remove the card."  The door swung open.

"That's really handy."

"It's a good system and it's linked to the security alarms."  He let them inside and watched Xander take off his shoes.  "Terra cotta tiles, all rough finished so you don't slip."  He slowly led Xander around the house to show him where things were.  The TV came on a bit loud but Xander turned it down.  The kitchen was nicely laid out and Gretchen was already arranging things in Xander's preferred manner.  Mack led him outside.  "Banana tree."  Xander beamed at him and nodded.  They walked around the yard, which was a bit squishy from some earlier rain but the boy didn't mind.  "Fenced in yard.  Garage for the car if you ever get one.  Bench."  He put him onto it.  "This'll work?"

"This is great," Xander said.  He hugged him briefly.  "Thank you, Mack."

"It's not a problem."  He ruffled his hair.  "Your trainer's due out later.  Gretchen has a huge freezer for your pizza habit."  Xander grinned.  "Want to go back inside?"

"Later.  Is my computer in the office?"

"Right now your laptop is in front of the couch."

"That's cool."  He sniffed and calmed down.  "Nearest neighbors?"

"About a sixth of a mile up the road to the right.  On the left you have a street between you two."  Xander nodded at that.  "There's sidewalks on this side so you can learn how to use them better.  There's a park a few blocks past that intersection and about ten to a public beach."

"Which is a good walk but nice.  Thank you."

"You're welcome.  Just don't call Naomi to come out here, okay?"

"No, I'd never do that.  She ... reminded me a lot of Willow actually."

"Yeah, I kinda got that vibe off Willow's last call too."  He helped him up and back into the house.  "Wipe your feet on the soft thing."  Xander did and they went to the couch.  Mack got Xander used to the big button remote that handled everything in the living room.  So he was still there when his trainer got there.  She wasn't real friendly but she seemed genuine and cautious to him.  Clearly trained by the way she stood.  She sat down next to Xander and helped him memorize where things were.

Yeah, he could handle living in a dark world like this for the rest of his boring life.

***

Ten Years Later

***

Mack Wolfe walked into a new office, staring at one guy.  "I've got an issue."

"What sort?"  He leaned back.  "Big one?  Little one?  I heard they're retiring you."

"Yup, and I'm still watching over one young guy's life.  So I need someone I can trust and he will trust to work with him when he dates the next evil thing."

"Evil thing?" he asked with a smile.

"I've arrested his last seven."

"Oh, that sort."  He considered it.  "Lots of work?"

"I usually check on him every few days."

"That's not that much work.  He have a problem with military guys, natives?"  Mack shook his head.  "At all?"

"No, not in the least."

"Good.  I've got that new task force that I formed.  Since he might date some of the people on their list we can introduce them.  If not, two have been PD long enough to recommend someone."

"That'll work.  I'm going out later tonight."  The other guy nodded so Mack left him alone.

***

Xander opened the door, blinking a few times.  "You brought a date, Mack?  I can smell others."

"No, I brought a few other officers to meet you, Xander.  They did the unthinkable and retired me."  Xander shuddered but let them inside.  "Guys, this is Xander Harris.  Xander, these are three officers on a new task force.  You dated someone on it already."

"Oooh, yay.  Were they good or one of the sucky ones in bed?"

"Probably sucky.  They didn't have anything to note," one of them said.  "I'm Danny, this is Steve, and this is Kono.  She's the nice smelling one."

Xander sniffed and smiled.  "You all smell too pretty to be real cops."  Steve laughed.  "Come on in.  Gretchen, company."

"Then come get your mangy puppies out of the kitchen."

"Guys," Xander called.  They came running.  "Sit."  All but one sat.  She was bouncing around.  "I said sit."  She sat and barked.  "Thank you."

Mack smiled and petted them.  "You've done good training the dogs to be others' seeing-eye dogs, Xander."

"Thanks."  He grinned.  "Mine had puppies."  He led them into the living room. The puppies followed and flopped down on all the good seats.  "Human seating, guys."  They moved for the new people.  "Thank you.  If they didn't, pick them up and say 'human seat' then put them down somewhere else."  Steve had to do that.  "So, what can I do for you guys?"

"Well, since I'm going to be officially retired," Mack said.  "I figured I'd introduce you to people you could trust to call the next time an arms dealer promises you a rocket launcher for a blow job."

"She was bad at it," Xander muttered.  "And the rocket didn't work anyway."

"You're former military?" Steve asked.

"No, not quite."  He smiled.  "Long, involved story.  Really long, involved story that freaks some people out."

Kono blinked a few times at the housekeeper then looked at him.  "You know something about John's Bar."

"I do.  I make it over there now and then to get a glass of tea and have someone help me play poker."

Danny looked at her then at him.  "Where are you from, Xander?"

"About three hours north of LA.  Little town called Sunnydale."  Danny moaned.  "I take it you've heard of us?"

"Yeah.  A bunch of people from there moved to Cleveland and some to my former area."

"I was helping the town when I got acided."  Gretchen handed him a glass of tea.  "Thanks, Gretchen."

"Welcome, Xander.  I have tea and bottles of water if someone would like some.  Mack, I've set up the grill but once again it won't start for me."

"I can do that."  He went to start it for her.

Gretchen smiled at them.  "Xander's a very nice boy.  He's not picky.  He's very sweet.  Even if he won't let me fix that tile in the entryway."

"I'll hear if someone steps on it," Xander reminded her.

"Good point but it's a pain to clean around."  She went to get water and tea for them.  They accepted drinks and she got back to work on dinner.  If they were mean to Xander she'd have Spike show up to eat them for him.  No matter how tough she had heard one was.

Xander smiled.  "I've had Gretchen since just before I got the house.  She's been keeping me sane now for almost a decade."

"That's good," Steve agreed.  "What arms dealer was it that offered you that rocket launcher?"

"Ummmm...  Gretchen, what was her name?"

"Olin.  Gina Olin."

Danny looked her name up and nodded.  "She's pretty badass."

"She had bad suction and a gag reflex but enjoyed the oral sex a lot," Xander quipped.

Steve took the PDA to read, handing it to Kono.  "No wonder Mack wanted us to be introduced.  You've probably dated a good portion of the ones we'd be handling."  Xander grinned.  "So, no long-term thing?"

"No, the only long-term one I had was the dog.  She's not exactly cuddly that way.  She won't sleep anywhere except beside my bed.  I do take setups though."

Kono smiled.  "I'll see if any of my friends are single."  Xander grinned at her.  Mack shouted and they all reached for guns, including Xander.  "Can you actually shoot?"

"Yes.  A lot."  He walked out there.  "Mack, is it the snake again or someone else?"

"It's your neighbor, Xander."

"Ma'am, I may be blind but I'm not *that* blind."  She huffed off.  He waved.  "Have a nice time on Oahu."  He went back inside.  "She's been sneaking over to stare at me thinking I wouldn't realize it.  She wears a ton of perfume though."

Kono smiled.  "Okay, that's something I never learned.  How do you aim?"

"Breathing sounds.  Smells."

"We trained him," Mack called.  "It was necessary."

"My teacher Rebecca's husband hated that each time he snuck in to see her I shot him in the foot."  Xander sat down.  "So, anyway.  What do you guys do?"

"Major crime rings," Steve said.

Xander nodded.  "Did I date one of those recently?  Gretchen, is what's his name on their list?"

"Probably.  He's on my shitlist, Xander."

He giggled.  "She hated him.  Called him a sumo wrestler wannabe."

Danny smirked.  "Yeah, we know him.  You two still on good terms?"

"Sometimes.  Depends on how needy he is.  He thinks I'm selfish.  I thought he was a bit boring but sucked nicely."  He heard a bark.  "Outside," he said with a point.  They all ran out there to pee.  "Thank you."

Mack smiled at the puppies.  "If any of them don't work as service dogs I might want one, Xander."

"Sure.  If so we can work that out.  I won't even charge you."  He grinned.  "Seeing eye dogs are really expensive," he told the other officers.

"I've heard they are," Danny agreed.  Gretchen refilled drinks and they went outside to help with the grilling.  Well, Xander played with the puppies and did some more training but that was okay.

***

Mack looked at the officers once they had left Xander's, staring at them.  "One thing I didn't say inside.  Xander's past means he's prepared in case of anything huge going on.  Like the Martians land, he's there and you'll probably have to take the artillery from him."  They all stared at him.  "Between those that he's dated and those that owed him some money from an underground poker circuit, Xander's prepared in case of anything happening."

"So he's got real weapons?" Steve asked.

"Yeah and they're like his puppies.  He had one of them longer than he's been blind."

Steve nodded.  "We don't bust him for that?"

"No, because the kid's past goes back to a group that was protecting a town."

"Okay," Steve said.

"Also, Steve, he knows some Rangers.  He said my cousin Jim's the only decent one he knows.  He said the rest were torturing wimps.  They were torturing wimps.  The ones that Jim arrested he wanted to beat the asses of."  They all nodded.  "Third, Xander's got a really soft center.  He's got a really soft spot for those who need help.  I've caught him stopping muggers.  Last year he stopped someone who wanted to hit a kid.  He knocked that one out and nearly got arrested for that."  They all nodded at once.  Mack smiled.  "It's not something we can really stop and I'd rather he have them than a lot of others.  Mostly because if I need something I can bum it."

"That's good to know," Danny decided.  He put his hands in his pockets.  "We're being introduced because of that?"

"Because sometimes the kid forgets he's not exactly the warrior of the universe.  He wasn't the best before, he was self-trained.  He took some training time with a local dojo to help with his balance problems.  He's still a comic book geek too."  Kono grinned.  "He's a great guy.  He's a nice kid.  I love the kid like a strange cousin."

"I can see that.  Though I'd love a list of who he dated," Steve said.  "I've met others that collected weapons but never wanted to use them.  Paranoid types usually."

"Xander's not exactly paranoid but he's certain some spring something's going to happen.  Especially since there's still a secret society and a law firm who would love to kill him.  And a few Rangers that Jim wants to help me torture for their project's screw ups."

Steve blinked hard.  "What?"

Mack got the file he had built on Xander out of his car, handing it to him.  "The current threat index."

They read it over, Kono giving him a few funny looks.  Mack grinned at her.  "We're sure he's sane?" she asked.

Mack nodded.  "He is.  Most of the time.  Now and then he'll drive himself nuts."

Steve looked over the list of past dates that Mack had arrested then at his coworkers.  He looked at him.  "So it's a watch out for him, arrest his dates, make sure if people try to kill him he's helped?"

"Mostly," Mack agreed.  "The kid still hasn't made a lot of friends.  He could use a lot more friends.  Steve, he's a very much like you in some ways.  I have no idea why the kid is tougher than some military vets but he is.  Oh, and he adores kids.  He's sterile so he'll fuss over any kids that come near him."

"Sure," Danny agreed.  "Is he as annoying as Steve is?"

"Hey," Steve complained.

"Last year for his birthday I got the kid two pounds of chocolate.  He and his dog bounced around the park for *ten hours*."

"Where is his seeing eye dog?" Steve asked.  "We didn't see her."

"She got shot by one of the lawyers last month.  Fortunately the puppies were weaned."

They all stared.  "Lawyers?" Kono demanded.

"Evil lawyers.  They've actually tried to start the end of the world.  They've tried to take over LA a few times.  They consider the kid some sort of mystical sacrifice.  The ones in England *hate* the kid.  We've dealt with five different attempts from them.  One of them Xander nearly blew up the house to get rid of them.  They're like roaches.  There's ten in the islands right now.  All young and cocky.  I'm expecting another attempt on his life any week now."

"I drove them off earlier," Xander called from a window.  "The last one's still under the neighbor's house probably.  Not the stalking one, the other one."  He shut the window.  Then he opened it again.  "I'm not that complicated, strange, or hard to get to know but I don't get out much.  Most things you can't enjoy as much if you can't see it."  He shut the window again.

"Sure," Danny said, heading the way Mack pointed.  They got to the house and found the husband or someone out there with a light.  "Sir, let us look," he said.  He held up his badge.  "One of your neighbors just told us he drove off someone who tried to break in."

"Please, Officer."  He got out of the way.

Steve leaned down to look.  "Get your ass out here," he growled.  "Now."

"Five-O," Danny said.  "Or we're going to see if we can get one of Harris' puppies to bite you."  They got the guy out of the crawl space and handed him to Kono to arrest.  She had cuffs and they didn't.  He looked at the owner.  "If you hear more, call 911 and we'll get them for you, sir."

He smiled.  "I thought it was a stray pet.  Maybe one of the blind guy's dogs."

"No, they tried to attack him earlier," Mack said.

"They're really stupid because the guy's a bit weird," he said, going back inside.  "Have a good night, Officers."

"You as well, sir."  They walked him off.  Mack slammed the guy against the car, staring at him.  "You're in my city.  I've vowed to come to England to deal with you before.  Do I need to finish booking my flight?"  The man sneered.

Xander walked out and held up a small bottle.  The man whimpered and backed away.  "Don't you have bigger problems than pissing me off?" he asked quietly.  "Because I don't care if the whole Council goes up.  I'm pretty sure there's people who will step in to train the girls without you.  So go the fuck away.  You breaking the treaty you called last year means I get to act now."  The man tried to break free and run.  Xander walked off shaking his head.

"Xander, put that back please," Mack ordered.  "Before we have to make you hide for a bit."

"Yes, Mack.  Though, the last one in New York was fun.  I got teased like hell at the strip club."  He walked off.  "Inside, whichever puppy you are."

"Go in," Mack ordered.  They ran in.  "Good dogs."

Xander grinned back at them.  "You're good at training too."  He walked in and shut the door.  Then the door opened and someone ran out wailing.  "Have fun with him."  He shut the door again.

Mack walked over to put the dog back inside then walked back shaking his head.  He stared at the idiot.  "Council or lawyer?"

"What?" he demanded.

Mack glared.  "Are you from the Council, a lawyer, or a Ranger?"

"No!  Not at all!  I just wanted to rob him.  He's supposed to be wealthy!"

"He's a lawyer," Gretchen called.

"Okay," Mack said with a smile.  "Good to know."  They got him back to the office to arrest him too.  They were not happy even though it had been a good dinner.  The kid seemed pretty nice.  They'd keep him in mind and keep an eye on him.  Before he ended up on their caseload for real.

***

Xander sighed, looking at the guy that Mack had hired.  "Why do I get a bodyguard this time?"

"Three assholes who want to kill you in a horrible manner."

"I usually beat them."

"This time they're sure you're scary, Mr. Harris."

"First, I'm Xander."

"Sure," the guy agreed.  "There's also news that your parents have filed to have custody of you."

Xander raised an eyebrow.  "Huh.  Interesting."  He walked off calling someone.  "I had to hear from someone else that you talked to my family?"  He listened.  "So it was thrown out but.....  Oh, charming.  Restraining order?  Anything we can do in case they try to run me over or something?"  He sighed and nodded.  "Sure."  He hung up.  "Fuck."

"Exactly, which is why Detective Wolfe decided you needed someone with my skills."

Xander turned back to him.  "Ranger or SEAL?"

"Neither.  Marine."

"What does the word 'Initiative' mean to you?"

"Not a damn thing.  Should it?"

"There were a program that my friends helped end."

"Okay.  Sound like assholes."

Xander nodded.  "Where did he want me to hide?"

"Miami or New York.  Maybe Boston but they think it'll draw attention to your priest friend."

"Hmm.  We need to warn Philip.  Gretchen?"

"I say Miami this time, Xander.  There's a lot to do and beaches.  It's warm like it is here.  New York's in fall so it's cooler.  Besides that detective you saw last time was a bit mean.  Maybe you'll find someone nicer as a distraction this time."

"Maybe," he agreed.  "Okay.  Gretchen, make arrangements.  The puppies?"

"Mack said he'd be out to work with them for you," the new guy said.

Xander nodded.  "They love their uncle.  He spoils them rotten by dropping food."  Gretchen laughed.  "I'll call Aria to tell her we have to leave town suddenly so she can help him."  He patted around until he found the phone.  "Dial Aria."  It dialed.  "Hey, it's Xander.  Mack found another person that wants to own or kill me in that special way.  I know, it happens so often," he said dryly.  "Anyway, he's hired me another bodyguard and gave me the order to go hide.  Which means he's going to puppy sit and train for a bit.  That'd be great.  Thanks, Aria.  Yeah, with Gretchen.  Me lost in a new city isn't a great idea really.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Okay, she'll show up to help him."  He headed for his bedroom.  "Laundry?"

"Already done and put up, Xander."

"Cool."  He used his cane to find his suitcases and put them on the bed, going to the closet.

"Why is it separated?"

"She and I worked out a garanamials sort of system.  The ones on the right all go together.  The ones on the left all go together.  The neutral ones are in the other closet.  That way I didn't have to keep asking her if something matched for dates."  He touched the hangers.  "Which bag is the blue one?"

"The one on the right, near the pillows."  Xander nodded, bringing them over to pack them.  Gretchen came in to shoo them off and do it for them.  The new bodyguard was amused.  Especially when one of the puppies pounced him.  "Hi, little fella.  Free to pet?"

"Yeah.  They're not in harness and not assigned yet."  Xander sat down on his dressing bench.  "Gretchen, apartment or hotel?"

"Corporate apartment that rents monthly and has all the furniture and things.  I did specify that you're blind so they're getting us one in a nicer building with a doorman and no stairs."

"That's cool."  His phone rang and he found it, frowning.  "Yes?"  He listened.  "That's a really bad thing.  Can we put it back?"  He smiled.  "You let me handle that then.  Yup, thanks."  He hung up.  "They tried to steal from me, Gretchen."

"I believe that's screwing with you by the terms of that wish," she said dryly.

"I believe so too."

A guy appeared and kissed him on the temple.  "It's all back, Xander.  Don't wish to go technodemon for a few days so you can search their files.  Plus we pulled the wish's boundaries to help too."

Xander grinned and kissed him.  "Thank you.  I love it when you're mean for me."

"Us too.  It gives us happies."  He disappeared again.

"He's in vengeance," Xander said with a grin.  He called his lawyer back.  "Is it back yet?"  He looked and said it was.  Xander grinned.  "No, I saw Tomas.  Thanks, man.  Let me know.  Also if my parents are being dicks again."  He listened.  "No, that's not nice and I got ordered to evacuate the island by Mack because of those sort.  When?"  He winced.  "I think I can do that.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Get me something nicer to change into.  We apparently have to go beat the parents in person this afternoon.  The judge moved their stupid motion up."  Gretchen handed him something.  "Suit?"

"Yes."

"Fine."  He went into the bathroom to change and came out running a hand through his hair.  He picked up his cane where he had left it.  "C'mon.  You're driving.  They won't let me."

"Yes, Xander."  The bodyguard followed, finding a nice modest sports car in the garage.  "This is pretty."

Xander grinned.  "Thank you."  He got into the passenger's side and buckled up.  The bodyguard got in and drove them to the courthouse.  He ran into a familiar smelling person and paused.  Then he walked around her.

"Xander," Willow said.  "I know you didn't see me so I'm not upset you didn't say hi, Mister."

Xander blinked at her.  "Are you helping my parents?"

"They said...."

"Go home, Willow.  Now."  She huffed.  He walked off, his cane tapping.

"Security line is in front of you by about two dog lengths," the bodyguard said quietly.  "Who's that?"

"Very old friend I'm still pissed at.  Clearly she's here to cause more damage."

"Oh.  Okay.  Any chance she poisoned you or anything?"

"I'm immune to most of them."  He stopped when the hand on his arm tightened.  There were only a few people in line.  They got to the front quickly.  "Hi, guys.  Which way to the municipal courts?"

"Up the four stairs, take a right, go about fifty feet and you run into the secretary's office.  It smells like orchids because she just got some today," one of the guards said quietly.  "She can tell you which office you need to be in, sir.  Anything like a weapon?"

Xander patted himself down and nodded, handing them over.  "Because I found out earlier someone's trying to kill me."  He grinned.  "I didn't even date them."

"Good to know, sir.  We have it in a lock box up here for you.  Here's your key."  He put it into his hand and hand-wanded him.  "There you go.  Thank you, sir."

"Welcome."  They walked that way.  "Two flowers," he murmured.

"Right," the bodyguard said.  Xander nodded and smiled as he walked in.  He waited, watching the redhead watch them.  Xander came out and they walked off to find the auxiliary building.  He had no idea but she had given him good directions.  They found a sour looking couple that looked somewhat like his charge and Xander signed them in.  It wasn't a long wait but Xander pulled out an e-book system that read to him.  "That's really nice."

"Thank you.  It's modified but it's pretty handy."  He grinned.  "More and more things are going out in electronic formats."  He went back to 'reading' until they were called.  He slipped it into his pocket and got up, tapping ahead of himself.  The bailiff held the door.  "Thank you," he said quietly.

"To the left side please, sir.  Your lawyer?"

"Should be here.  Better be here."

"I'm here, Xander," he called, walking up to them.  "Traffic's a bitch because there's a major bust of a guy selling drugs out of his car."

"Go Steve and them."  He patted the seats and took the one farthest from the aisle.  It had clearance to walk around it on the other side.  He sat down and got comfortable.  They all stood when the judge walked in then sat back down.  His chair had shifted too much but he had felt her doing that.  He calmly sat down again.

"I see we're here over a conservatorship hearing?" the judge said.

"Not by my choice," Xander quipped.  "I have one that watches over my accounts for me and even if they did get me he'd still be employed."

The judge looked at him.  "When were you blinded, Mr. Harris?"

"Ten years and three months ago.  A few days but I'm rounding."

"That's fine."  He made notes.  "Since that time have you had a conservator?"

"Your Honor, I'm his legal protection holder," Xander's lawyer said.  "I watch out for his accounts, make sure everything's handled if he has medical problems, and hire people if he needs something done."

"So you do the conservator job but mainly just the monetary side?" the judge asked.

"Mostly, yes, sir.  Xander pays his own bills.  His housekeeper grocery shops for him, usually with him.  I'm mostly here because two groups have a death wish against my client and keep trying to steal his money and things.  They tried again this morning."

"All right.  He has a housekeeper?"

"Yes," Xander said.

"An apartment?"

"No, I bought a house about ten years ago," Xander said.  "I own another one in Boston for hurricane season.  I recently got that one instead of the one I had in Cascade because up there an eco terrorist wanted to date me and I refused so they bombed my house."

"Interesting."

Xander grinned.  "That can describe a lot of my dates."

"How much help do you need with your daily care?" the judge asked.

"None.  Gretchen does laundry for me and hangs it up in the way that we decided to sort things.  I clean, dress, feed myself.  I play and train the puppies my seeing eye dog had before she was killed by some lawyers.  I'd mow the grass but she won't let me.  I can mildly cook uncomplicated things when she's got a day off."

"So you're not considering this a disability?"

"No, it's a disability but I've been handy in working around it.  I was never going to sit in a corner and suck my thumb going 'why me' like my former friends wanted me to do."

"That's good.  Are you working?"

"No.  I thought about retraining myself to do something officey and then nearly got killed by those same damn lawyers."

"Why?"

"They're mystical idiots who think I'd make a great sacrifice.  There's a secret society in England that's not affiliated who has the same idea.  It's been over ten years of dealing with them."

"I'm sure you've told someone in the local police department?"

"Yes.  As a matter of fact, one that's now retired was helping me when I first got out here.  My first helpers handed me to him because we were attacked in San Diego by the secret society."

"Wonderful."  He made more notes.  "Your parents' filings say that you don't leave your house?"

"There's not much I can really enjoy without the visual component.  Things like cook-outs and pig roasts I like to go eat at and listen to but it's more fun if you can see them.  I don't really like classical music.  Now and then we go listen to movies."  The judge nodded.  "Even amusement parks aren't really the same if you can't see what's causing the adrenaline rush.  Though I have went sky diving."  Mack had complained for six months about that since it had been one of his dates that had taken him.  The judge was staring, he could tell.  Xander grinned.

"The ones with you, Mr. Harris?"

"My legal friend and the bodyguard my retired detective friend hired because he caught a few people that want to kill me showing up on the islands.  He just showed up today."

"Good to know.  So your security's well in hand?"

"Yes.  Including the fact that I can shoot.  I'm actually a better shot now."

The judge hummed.  "That's good to know.  Your parents say that you're dependent on your housekeeper for daily care, including feeding?"

"She does fuss if I don't eat, but no.  The most personal Gretchen has to usually get is popping a zit for me.  If I'm sick she'll bring me soup in bed and things."

"They also said that you're being stolen from by your present conservator?"

"No, I believe that's a different source that tries that," Xander said dryly.  "Though, I do want to make something noted here, Your Honor.  I left their house at seventeen.  I am not going back.  Under any circumstances.  I'll blow them the fuck up first."  The judge gasped.  "I do not want or need two alcoholics anywhere near me.  I don't want to listen to them sneering because I'd have my accounts locked in such a way that they couldn't get to it.  Which is probably all they want.  There's also a very high death rate in their town.  That's why my friends sent me away when this happened to me."

"It's down to thirteen percent," Willow complained.

The judge looked at her.  "All of Hawaii's, including natural disasters, is only two, young lady.  That's extremely high.  That's even higher than Detroit's."

"It had been higher," Xander said.  "I managed to get over all of my former life, my heavy drinking parents who liked to scream and hit me, and all sorts of things to move on with my life.  I don't really feel like backsliding."

The judge nodded.  "I wouldn't either.  Therapist?"

"Friends.  One introduced me to a priest who knew about my former life and the town.  He's in Boston.  We're pretty good friends."

"Good.  That's helpful.  Are you Catholic?"

"No.  He's just a really good friend."

"Okay.  Any religion of choice?"

"Not my thing," Xander quipped.  "Actually, the last missionary at my door woke me up after two days of not sleeping due to the flu and I pulled a gun on her."  He sighed.  "I so got nagged by my housekeeper for that."

The judge laughed.  "I've had that same mood only mine was my child's colic."  He looked at him.  "Who buys your clothes?"

"I do.  I take Gretchen with me to make sure it matches in with my chosen color scheme.  You know those little kids' clothes where you match the animals on the tags and the outfit will match?  We have my closets sorted that way."

"That's not a bad idea."  He looked him over.  "Do you have any needs that aren't presently being met by your present circumstances?"

"I could use a new lover but dating's a bitch.  Most of them see the cane and flinch or walk off.  The last one I dated is nicely still writing letters to me from the jail.  She stole something from a museum."

"That happens at times."  The judge looked at the parents.  "Why do you think he'd be better with you?"

"We're his family," Xander's mother said.  "It's our job to take care of him.  If his friends hadn't sent him away we'd have taken him back in."

"To get my checks," Xander said dryly.  "By the way, I didn't have the money then."  He grinned.

"You would've been put on disability to make sure you were a productive member of the family," his father said.

The judge stared at them.  "I don't think he seems to have a problem.  What problems are you seeing that he's not?"

"It's not right that strangers do it for us," his mother said.  "We're blood."

Xander leaned over to look in that direction.  "Were we blood when I was seven?"  She gasped.  "I don't think your argument holds water, I really don't.  Beyond that, who paid for you to file this?  And who told you I had money?"

"I got worried and asked Willow what had happened to you," his mother said.

Xander sighed.  "Even if you got me, my money's in a trust.  My present lawyer is over my trust.  That means he'd pay my bills and give me an allowance, which he'd arrest you for taking.  Beyond that, if this was a way for the lawyers to get me, they've already failed.  Because I know you two couldn't afford a trip out here.  It's one of the greater reasons I stayed."

Xander's lawyer coughed.  "Sir, I did have someone I know, who is an illegal source admittedly, look up this case in their records.  They did pay them," he said, handing the bailiff some papers.

"I know that law firm."  He frowned as he read it over.  "Hacked?"

"Yes, sir.  I have one keep track of anything they do in relation to my client since they want to kill him so much."

"I had no idea about that," Willow said.  "I just want Xander to be happy and protected."

Xander snorted.  "Do you honestly think they'd protect me?"  He shifted around.  "Since the CPS workers didn't think they protected me as a child I doubt they'd do it now if I needed it, Your Honor."

"That set of records burned a few years ago," Xander's lawyer told him.

"I know.  I even know who did it."

The judge looked at him.  "You are quite ...determined."

"I'll destroy them if they so much as come near me," Xander said.  "I am not going back to that hellish house.  Even if I would move back to Sunnydale I'd never go back there.  I lived there for six years without going anywhere near them.  Perhaps they should've taken the hint."

"If those lawyers did prompt this, would they hurt them?" the bodyguard asked him.

"Possibly.  No clue.  They killed two that failed to kill me but they were their people."

"Then we'll make sure they go home safely," the judge said.  "And spread that knowledge to their town's department."

Willow snorted.  "No offense, but our local PD has no officers right now.  Their boss sacrificed them.  Literally."

The judge looked at her.  "What?"

"The wacky that is Sunnydale," Xander quipped.  "Did he manage that demon summoning he was trying?"

"No.  One of the fire department killed him and it didn't work because he wasn't the original caster he said."

"Huh."  Xander relaxed again.

The judge shook his head.  "That town is in serious trouble.  I'll let others know."  He looked at them.  "Mr. Harris, what are your immediate plans?"

"I'm told some of the secret society sort are here and I was warned to get off the islands for a bit.  So I'm going to a nice, warm city on the mainland."  He grinned.  "My housekeeper picked which one so she could get some sightseeing in."

"Would you consent to meet with them in a less hostile environment?"

"No."

"All right."  He made a few more notes.  "I see no reason why Mr. Harris really needs a conservator at all.  I know it's so someone has hold over your money in case they try to hack it again.  I don't think he needs a physical helper really.  I would encourage him to go home and talk to them.  It may make him less bitter.  I am ordering that they talk before they leave the island."

"I'm leaving later tonight," Xander said.  "My death threat comes above them being used.  Beyond that, I've said everything I need to say to them.  And I'm not bitter.  I'm still a bit angry at some people.  My parents I don't feel a thing for."

The judge stared at him.  "Surely you can go to dinner before you leave?"

"Your Honor, his plane leaves in three hours," the bodyguard said.

"Oh."  He considered it.  "Could they come where you are?  That might protect them."

"If they want to move, they both have checks," Xander said.  "I'm not supporting their drunken lives.  I only support my own chocolate habit, no one else's."

"I can understand that feeling."  The judge tapped his pen a few times.  "Still, it might do you good to talk to them."

"About what?" Xander asked dryly.  "There's nothing they can say I want to hear.  The only reason they'd want to talk to me is to try to get money from me and I'm not paying them anything.  Then again, I'm also not going to be in public for the death threat to happen there.  Innocents might get hurt."

"True.  What about the airport?"

"We're helicoptering to another one probably.  That's how I usually do it," Xander admitted.  "We pick a different one each time."

"That's very security conscious of you."  Xander nodded.  "All right.  Though I am going to order that if his parents want custody they can write letters or call."

"I'm sure they'll love learning Braille to write me," Xander quipped.  He stood up.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Mr. Harris."  They left together.   He sighed.  His masters were going to be pissed off but there was no way that boy wouldn't win on appeal.  They'd have to find another way.

***

Xander paused them from going near the car.  "I smell cordite."  The bodyguard moved to check the car.  He called someone to come handle the bomb.  Xander sighed and called someone.  "It's me.  Someone just put a bomb on my car at the courthouse.  We have but I got warned that they're back again.  No, my parents tried shit, Danny.  Thanks.  No clue.  Yup, going soon.  By the way, Mack does know how to get into my emergency supplies if you need them.  Okay?"  He grinned.  "Somewhere warm.  Gretchen picked it."  He hung up and leaned on his lawyer's arm.  "So," he said.

"We can get you to the helipad."  He called someone to come pick them up.

Xander got into the car when it came, calling Gretchen.  "Are you good?"  He listened.  "Bottles.  Don't forget them."  The car drove off and Xander pulled a gun.  "Let's go home."  The driver spluttered.  "Really."

"Sir, I'm not part of them."

"Uh-huh.  That's why you smell like one of them?"

"I...  Um, I'm Council."

"An even better reason.  Home."  He drove them that way.  Xander looked at his bodyguard, who was staring in horror.  "Yeah.  It's one of those days."  They pulled up and Xander got out, going inside.  He walked over Mack's unconscious, snoring body.  "If you hurt my dogs I'm going to kill you all."

"Good, you're here," the one holding Gretchen hostage sneered.

Xander nodded and shot him.  "Yes, I am."  He screamed.  Xander turned and held a gun on another one.  "Identify yourself."

"Calm down," Steve said.  "It's me, Xander."

"They were holding Gretchen hostage and you're not Steve.  His voice sounds different and you smell wrong.  Blind people do have other senses we tell by.  Especially with the hyena taint."  The demon changed back and rushed at him.  Xander killed it and he felt it change forms.  "Gretchen, where is it?"

"Here," she said, taking off the illusion choker.  She got him the two bags and the carry on with the bottles.  "Go, Xander.  I'll clean this up."

He stared at her.  "No!"  She gave him a shove because there were sirens.  "C'mon."

"No!  Go."  He huffed but left.  She calmed herself down.  Officers rushed in.  "They were holding me hostage.  My boss showed up to help me but there's a death threat so he's leaving the island."

"Ma'am, the system said the owner's blind," one officer said.  She nodded.  "How did he shoot someone?"

"He was a hunter before he got blinded."  She got some water and sat down at the table.  "This isn't the first threat on his life either."  She sipped the water.  "By the way, the snoring one is a retired detective that Xander worked with on his other death threats.  They clubbed him on the head."

They got an ambulance for him and the coroner for the other two.  One of the officers fought the programming but he did eventually draw his gun and point it at her.  "You're in their way."

"What the hell are you doing?" one of the other officers shouted.

"Harris has to die!"

"Melusia, attack," Gretchen ordered.  The hell hound that hung around and was the puppies' daddy showed up to eat him.  She sighed and sipped the water.  They all stared at her.  "The father of his guide dog's puppies.  They're in the bedroom.  Can you let them into the backyard?"  They nodded, letting one do that. Gretchen was rubbing her forehead.  "I need to catch up to him."

"It'll be a few days, ma'am," one of the officers said.  "Airport's closed right now due to an attempted stabbing."

She sighed but nodded.  "That's why we had him fly out on a helicopter."  The officer talking to her smiled.  "By now he's gone."

"That's good to know."  Their shift commander showed up.  One of the ones outside had called him.  "Sir."

"Boys.  Ladies."  He nodded at the two female officers.  "What happened to Wolfe?"

"Knocked out by the person who had me hostage to try to get my boss," Gretchen said, sipping her water.  "I have no idea which death threat they're from."

The shift commander nodded.  "Makes sense to me."  He looked at his officers.  "What did he do?"

"Pulled a gun and said that the homeowner had to die.  Some sort of dog appeared and attacked him."

The shift commander frowned.  "Are you high?"  The dog reappeared, staring at him.  "Oh, one of those."  Gretchen smiled.  "This is Harris' house."  She nodded, finishing her water.  "Him?"

"Out."

"Here?"

"No."

"Good!"  The officers in the house pulled weapons and he got injured but got most of them.  Gretchen got wounded as well.  More officers showed up thanks to the ones outside trying to step in and not being able to tell who was the bad guy.  "Dog, get her to a healer," he ordered.  The dog grabbed her and took her.  He knew no demon would get fair treatment at any local hospital.  He was holding his wound and leaning against a wall when backup showed up.  "They pulled guns," he told them.

Steve McGarret nodded.  "Makes them dirty then."  His team waded in to clean up the injured officers.  Internal Affairs showed up to question and one pulled a gun on Danny but got it back from Steve.  They backed down and it was better.  "His housekeeper?"

"Healer," the shift commander said.  "I came in the second wave and they turned on me."

Danny nodded.  "Okay.  Any idea if they're Council or from the law firm?"

"Law firm," one of the paramedics said.  "This one has a law firm ID."  He handed over the wallet he had been searching for medical information.

"Wolfram and Hart," Steve agreed.  "Anyone not with them?"  The one the dog had attacked turned out to have a tie back to the Council they'd find later.  Steve called Xander's phone to give him the head's up.

No one wanted to see Xander have to protect himself.  Especially not in a city that wasn't used to him.

***

Xander walked into the local Council for the Blind office in Miami.  "Hi."

"Good morning, sir.  Did you have an appointment?"

"No, I wanted to know if you had information on the town. I'm in on a long vacation and my housekeeper is presently on medical leave.  I had a bodyguard but he decided to abandon me because I flirted with a guy of all things."  She giggled.  He grinned.  "So I need some help learning the town."

"Do you have a dog?"

"No, some lawyers shot her recently."  He sighed.  "I'm really not happy with them."

"I can see why."  She got him some information.  "Can you read Braille?"

"Yes, in three languages."  He grinned.

"Wonderful.  Here is the bus system's information."  She handed it to him so he could feel it and tell it apart from the others.  "This is on the taxi services."  He nodded.  "This is on our services here.  Also I can see if there's someone who can do guide duty for a few days."

"That would be helpful.  Thank you."  He grinned.

"You're welcome."  She paged someone.  She came out.  "This is...."

"Xander Harris," he said, holding out a hand.

"Welcome to Miami, Mr. Harris."  She led him back to her office.  "Why are you in town?"

"The two constant death threats on me decided to team up and try again.  My housekeeper got injured so she's on medical leave.  I had a bodyguard but apparently me flirting with a guy made him huff off."

"All right."  She smiled.  "Are you laying low?"

"Mostly.  I don't think there's much chance of them finding me here unless there's a trial going on in town.  I haven't heard that they have an office in town.  I checked but I haven't seen them attached to any cases either."

"That's fine.  Have you talked to the local PD?"

"I'm going to let the detectives I work with out there tell them.  I'm going there after here to hand them my phone."

"That's good."  She smiled.  "I can get you a native guide to help you learn the area a bit for a few days."

"Thank you.  How much is their rate?"

"We don't usually charge."

Xander held up a hand.  "I have some money so I don't usually fall under the free guidelines."

She smiled.  "We don't have one.  It's strictly volunteer.  You can even help train a few new ones."  Xander grinned and nodded.  "Good.  I'll arrange for one to show up tomorrow?"

"That's fine."  Xander handed over the card he had gotten from the doorman.  "I'm there."

"That's not the best area."

"It's one of those corporate apartments."

"That makes sense.  I'll send one over."  Xander shook her hand and gathered his things to leave.  She watched.  "He's a nice guy.  I wonder why they're trying to kill him."

***

Xander dialed someone.  "Don't tell me you're in a car chase," he said dryly.  He rolled his eyes.  "Well, yeah, I was going to let you talk detective-to-detective about it happening down here.  If this is a bad time I can call back.  Sure, I can call him.  Do I have his number?"  He got it read to him and recited it back.  "Thanks."  He hung up and dialed that one.  "Chin, Xander Harris.  That's why I'm calling.  I'm in Miami.  I'm going to hand the phone to a detective so you guys can talk about all that.  No, he fled. I was flirting with a cute male attendant."  He grinned.  "Thanks.  Hold on."  He walked into the police department.  "Hi, I have two death threats on me so I'm hiding here.  I have a detective handling it on the phone to talk to one of yours."  He grinned.

She paged someone.  "Let me get a detective, sir."

One came out.  "What's wrong?"

Xander held out the phone.  "One of the detectives who helped stop the double death threat on me the other day at my house in Hawaii."

The detective walked him off, taking the phone to talk to him.  "This is Detective Tripp."  He listened.  "So....  Hiding is good, yeah."  He looked at the younger guy.  "Sir, do you have any helpers with you?"

"No.  I might be hiring a new bodyguard type but no."

"Okay, we'll look into that."  He sat the guy at his desk and walked off talking to the other detective.  "Let me get you on with another one as well.  He's with the crime lab and he knows more about that sort of thing than I do."  He found Horatio and waved him over, putting the guy on speaker.  "Okay, Detective Kelly.  I'm on with the head of our crime lab."

"That's wonderful.  I hope they have more fun than we did with Xander's house here.  Both death threats decided to work together.  His housekeeper got shot in the arm and a graze on the side.  He had a bodyguard sort but I guess Wolfe forgot to tell them he's bi."

"He's blind," Tripp told Horatio quietly.

"Why are there death threats?"

"I'm not absolutely sure.  I know one's because he was born somewhere particular.  They're lawyers.  We hear they keep trying to take over LA and then the world.  There's a sort-of secret society from England that hates him for helping their people before he was blind.  They're a bit too well known in certain circles to be truly secret now."

"The Council?" Horatio Caine asked.

"Yes.  Them.  They somehow brainwashed an officer yesterday into shooting his fellow officers when they showed up to help Mr. Harris' housekeeper."  Both detectives groaned.  "The others that decided to shoot the officers the law firm had paid off.  Internal Affairs is not very happy with their stack of paperwork.  They can't even have evil glee over the dirty officers there's so many."

"That's bad," Tripp decided.  "How can we help the kid?"

"Right now, I hope he's laying low."

"Us too," Caine agreed.

"They got him an apartment out there to hide in.  He's got a house in Boston but my task force's boss wanted him somewhere they wouldn't think to find him.  He and Wolfe talked about it yesterday.  Steve, you're back.  That bodyguard left Xander for flirting.  That means he's down there alone."

"I'll kill him later," a male voice growled.  "Right after I find the kid a new one."

"Until then, is there anything we can do to help beyond being aware?" Tripp asked.

"Do not let the boy date," Steve said, taking the phone.  "He dates arms dealers and things.  They're all highly protective of him.  We *love* that three of them earlier got into a fight about who was going to take out the law firm for Xander."

"Oh, dear," Horatio sighed.

"Oh, yes.  I like the kid.  I barely know him but I already like the kid.  He's a nice, goofy guy who somehow learned to shoot like a commando even without being able to see."

"Don't forget, part of yesterday's thing was the law firm bribing his parents to try to get custody of him," another male voice said.  "And one of his female friends is still in town."

"I'll handle her later," a female voice said.  "Is Xander all right?"

"So far.  We've got Miami-Dade PD on the phone," Detective Kelly said.

"Good!"  She clearly took the phone.  "Xander is a nice, sweet guy with bad taste that leans toward dangerous.  Last week he stopped a kidnapping while out for ice cream.  He literally kicked the guy around until the kid told him they were probably real sorry now so he'd stop.  Even the officer felt sorry for the guy he kicked around."

"That's good to know," Horatio agreed.  "We'll help him if we can."

"Please.  His lawyer out here, the one over his trust, had a suspicious car accident and is in the hospital but not critical.  We had to set an officer on him because someone tried to take him out in the ER."

"We'll help him however we can."

"I'll be getting him another bodyguard as soon as I can," Steve said.  "Today if possible."

"That will help as well," Horatio agreed.  "We'll talk to him and make sure he gets home safely today."

"He had information from the Council for the Blind," Tripp said.

"That's a good place for him to start so he's not totally lost and vulnerable in Miami,"  Steve said.  "I have no idea if Xander brought any weapons with him.  Also, tell him Wolfe's fine, he and Aria have the puppies and they're all fine.  Though the father of the puppies is a bit weird."

"I can do that."  Tripp rattled off his desk number.  "That's mine and it's always forwarded."

"Okay, got it," Steve said.  "Have a better day, guys.  I think we have another one that used to date Xander in town."  He hung up.  "I just saw Otis walk past the doorway.  Did the kid date him?"  Kono looked at the list Mack Wolfe had kept and nodded.  "Let's go talk to him.  Even if we don't currently have a warrant I want him to lay low for now.  Then I'll go chat with Rosenburg."

"No, that's my fun.  You can back me up," Kono said.  She grabbed some extra cuffs to take with her.

***

"Not the nicest of neighborhoods," Detective Tripp said, looking around the outside of the building.

"It's one of those corporate jobs.  I guess they figured I didn't need the nice views."  He grinned and they walked inside.  "Hey, Oscar."

"Mr. Harris."  He nods at his guest.  "No mail or anything for you today."

"That's probably a good thing."  He smiled.  "This is Detective Tripp.  The ones I know on Oahu are working with him about the reason I'm hiding in your pretty city."

"Good to know, sir."  He shook his hand.  "Mr. Harris is on the fourth floor.  Apartment on the right.  The one on the left is filled with lawyers from New York in on that case in the papers."

"Good to know.  Thank you."  He took Xander up there.  He handled things well enough on his own.  "The lawyers?"

"New York lawyers," Xander said.  "Not them as far as I can tell."

"That's good."  He checked the kid's apartment and watched him settle in.  "That one said he'd be getting a new bodyguard for you later today if possible."

"That's good.  I've arranged for a guide to help me get to the grocery store and a few other places tomorrow and the next day."

"That'll work.  If there's a problem...."  He took the kid's phone.  "That's my number.  I'm storing it in the phone book and here's the audio for you to push."

Xander did and said his name then set it.  He listened and nodded.  "Thank you, Detective.  I hope I don't make too much work for you."

"I doubt you will, kid.  Even if they show up, it can't be worse than a gang shoot out."

"We hope.  Don't jinx me please."

"I won't.  Need anything special?"

"Dominoes."

Detective Tripp laughed.  "Have the doorman order it for you so they don't associate  you."  Xander nodded.  "Good boy.  Call me if you need me."  He left.  He went to talk to Horatio about what they could do to make it as easy as possible for the guy.

***

Steve hung up with a contact.  "It wasn't the flirting thing.  It was someone killing him in the airport."  The others moaned and shook their heads.  "I'm going to end that law firm."

"Might be too late.  I'm hearing news from LA that there's something huge going on."  Chin put it onto the screen so they could see the news feed.

"That looks bad," Danny said.  He called Xander.  "Stay put.  There's something huge going on in LA."  He listened.  "They did what?" he demanded.  "No, fuck them!  You don't need to help.  Yes but you never practiced in a battle situation so stay.  We'll send Steve to help if we have to.  He was a SEAL and Wolfe said Jim's down near there so he's probably jumped in too.  Just protect yourself."  He hung up.  "The kid said the lawyers did cause it.  He heard they opened the portal that did that."

"They're so dead," Steve said.  "That's something for military people."  He got into his email and called a number he had stored in a hidden one.  "It's McGarrett.  Turn on the TV to LA.  Yes, literally right now.  Oh, I don't know.  An invasion a good enough reason?"  The guy did that and started to swear.  "The guy that hears things said that the law firm Wolfram and Hart started that.  No, he listens about them because they keep trying to kill him."  He grinned.  "If you can find a way to get me there, I can go borrow things in about a half-hour.  Someone get Wolfe to meet me at Xander's."  He hung up and left.  The others didn't have his training so they couldn't really help this time.  Wolfe had the storage area open and let him into it.  "Did you see LA?"

"From Jim's phone.  Blair was having a freak out.  Where's the kid?"

"Miami."

"Good."  Wolfe opened a box.  "He has someone do it for him."

"It's handy," Steve decided.  The boxes were about wallet sized.  He could handle that.  He grabbed a bag and loaded most of them into it, then called his buddy back, reading his GPS coordinates to him.  He went outside and was beamed off.  "Star Trek, yay," he said, opening something and using it on the rushing demons.

Buffy looked at him.  "Gee, you're like the seeing Xander."

"I'm a SEAL and I like Xander," he told her.  She backed down.  "Clearly you never appreciated him."  He fired off something else and got handed a headpiece from one of the military guys.  "I'm retired Commander McGarrett.  I borrowed off a friend who knows an arms dealer."  He fired off another one.  "I can advance on that target.  Do we have a method of shutting it down?"

"Blow it up really hard," Buffy called, killing another one.  "Please blow it up really hard."

He repeated that and they moved forward.  She followed him to guard him.  Which was nice of her.  More military people were showing up in the same Star Trek way he had and they dove into the battle too.  He appreciated that a lot.  He was closer to the building when the damn thing went up.  He felt the warmth go over him and looked around, calling for a radiation reading.  He winced when he heard a higher up shouting 'what the fuck was that' out loud and over the radio.  "No clue, sir."  He killed a few more of the demons.  "I'm damn glad all the ones in Hawaii are peaceful."

Buffy panted, looking at him.  "Can I vacation there?"

"The Council's there," he said dryly.

She paused.  "How did you know?"

"I know Xander and I cleaned up the last mess he had to create thanks to them, Miss Summers.  Plus I got the files associated with his dossier.  I *was* in Intelligence."  She shrank back.  More soldiers appeared and moved to clean things up.  Someone was stomping their way.  "Sir," he said with a salute.

"You're McGarrett?"

"Yes, sir.  I'm presently working in Hawaii with the State Police."

"That's fine.  Thank you."  He shook his hand.  "How did you hear?"

"One of my people saw the news feed starting and I've learned a bit from a resident I know about some of these things."

"The same one that knows the arms dealers?"

"Figures," Buffy muttered.

The general looked at her.  "Go do your nails or something, miss.  Please."  He looked at the retired soldier again.

"It's actually her duty to do all this."

"Wonderful.  Not anymore."  He smirked.  "The president is having a swearing fit like a two-year-old who can't eat candy in the middle of a candy factory giveaway."

"Then can you do whatever thing you did to get me here so I can go hide?"

"Definitely.  The weapons?"

"As far as I'm concerned, him having them means no one tries anything like this on any of my islands.  Because I can borrow whenever I need to."  He smiled.  "My team as well."

"Good.  That one?"

"Hiding from the same ones who started this and the ones over Miss Summers there.  They're Brits."

"The president's going to love that even more."  He walked off.  "We'll get you home in a few, Commander."

"Yes, sir.  Thank you."  He called.  "I'm fine.  When I get back, we're going for beers and I'm going to hide."  He hung up and walked off.  He saw the guy he knew and had called.  "Who did the bomb?"

"No idea who did it or what they used.  It wasn't nuclear."

Steve looked at his phone and called someone.  "Xander, did you have anything to do with the bomb?"  He heard Buffy choking.  "That's cool, yeah.  No, go back to hiding.  Please.  I'll talk to you tomorrow."  He hung up.  "A buddy of his let him buy it off him to use."  The other soldier smiled back.  "Then he had the hellhound puppy that knocked up his seeing eye dog deliver it."  He walked off.

"Okay, Hawaii's weirder than my job," he decided, heading in the other direction.  There was a general still swearing at the top of his lungs and he wanted to be *far* away from that before he got assigned to the clean up duty.  He got McGarrett sent back to wherever he had been and decided he wanted a beer because the President had been beamed out and was swearing at everyone too.  Especially one tiny blonde girl.

"Screw yourself!  I only heard about it last night and I did call others to get some help!  It's not like *I* get backup like *I'm* the military!   If you want someone else to do it, Faith and I will gladly retire to shop some more."  She stomped off.  "Pick up your own damn weapons."

"Language," Willow complained as she appeared.  "I couldn't get here.  There was some sort of field."  She hugged Buffy.  "Are you all right?"  Buffy sniffed but nodded, pouting as she walked off.  She glared at the higher ups.  "It's not her fault no one listens when we say there's going to be a demon invasion.  Next time don't laugh at us."  She huffed and walked off.  Behind her, the screaming generals and the president turned into hamsters.

"Hold it!" someone shouted.  "Right now!"  He grabbed her and slammed her into the ground.  "It's treason to change the president or a general into gerbils or something."

"I did not!"

"Bullshit!"  He hauled her up and pointed.  "Don't they look like it?"

"It wasn't me!  There's at least sixty other people in this city that do magic who could've done it."  She huffed and undid it.  "There, better?  Now get me out of these damn cuffs before I destroy you!  I do not deserve this!"  He laughed.  He turned into a miniature pony.  Buffy broke the handcuffs and walked her off.

"Change him back," someone shouted.

"When I calm down!  I can't think right now!"

"How did she do that!" someone demanded.

"Magic," Buffy said with a smirk.  "Willow, maybe you should try to change him back.  Before they pull an Initiative and arrest you for testing?"

Willow glared at her then changed him back.  "Poopy head."  She and Buffy finished stomping off into the sunset.

The president looked at the general next to him.  "Just think, they're the protectors of humanity."

The general shook his head.  "Not anymore.  We have a military for this shit, sir.  It can't be any weirder than my present job."  He walked off too, gathering his people.  "I want the names of the people who started this within an hour," he shouted.  "I have a firing squad waiting."

Blair bounced over to him, a bundle of jingling, wired tight nerves.  "According to someone I know it was partially this law firm we just blew up and partially a group of higher ups.  He's not totally certain who all of them were though.  He did say that Miss Summers' associate Angel knew them because he went undercover to find out as far as he had heard."

"How did he hear?"

"He plays poker with some of the non-harmful community.  That way he keeps track of them since they want to kill him."

"Is he here?"

"Miami hiding from them," he said, glancing around then looking at him.  "He's blind and they've been trying to kill him now for over ten years.  Them and that Council out of England that's over Miss Summers."

"Great.  Thank you and him."  Blair nodded and went to check on Jim again.  He went to tell the president that, getting a nod.

"I know about the Council sorts.  I know about Miss Summers. I know nothing about this law firm."

"According to some burning letterhead floating around in the blast zone, it's called Wolfram and Hart," a major said.  "One of the strange looking beings that was helping defeat the other strange looking beings said something about a Black Thorn, sir."  He saluted and walked off to check on his people.

The general smiled.  "That gives us three names.  Let me get my people on that since they're better hackers than anyone else in the government's employment."  Something tugged on his pantsleg so he looked down, taking the file the tiny little green thing that looked like a gremlin from the old _Bugs Bunny_ cartoons was holding up.  "On this idiocy?"

"Yes, general."  He smiled.  "The Knight said to hand that to whoever was screaming the loudest but that one I'm scared of because rumors say he could blow us all up."  He disappeared with a muted popping noise.

"McKay, you're scaring off information sources.  Vent later!" he yelled.  He looked at the folder.  "Huh. Black Thorn."  The president took it to read over.  The loud, venting one stomped over.  "Find these people.  Today."

He looked at the list of names and called someone on base to start for him.  "I don't have a computer with me.  Miko's starting on it though."  He looked around.  "That was a very compact bomb."

"Some guy bought it off someone," the general said.  "The commander that alerted my colonel said he got it off someone."

"Wonderful," Rodney sneered.  "We'll have to find them too."

Jim walked over and saluted.  "General, Jim Ellison."

"I heard about your rescue, Ellison.  Why are you down here?  Are you native?"

"No, sir, Cascade, Washington.  We were working on stopping this law firm for good after they blew up a few houses to try to get a young man I know and myself."

"Why?" the president asked.

"They've hated him for years.  Keep trying to kill him."

"McGarrett said that the guy he knew with the weapons contact kept them because this law firm kept trying to kill him," a colonel said.

Jim smirked.  "That would be Xander.  Between these yahoos and the Council, the boy's never safe."

"He dates arms dealers," Blair agreed.

The general stared at them.  "Why was he not here?"

"He's blind and they tried to attack him yesterday so he left the area for his own safety.  He's usually found in Hawaii."

"He's in Miami," Blair mouthed.  "We don't know if one of them is around here.  I know someone Council is."  He pointed.  "I'm told he got fired."

"Then maybe he can explain some more to us," the general said.  "Fetch, Colonel."

"Bark, bark," he quipped, going to get that young man and walk him back.  "The general and the president have some questions."  The man pointed at his throat.  Blair handed over some paper and a pen, getting a smile.  "The bouncy one there says you're part of a group that keeps trying to kill the guy who got us the bomb?"  Wesley wrote that answer out.

The president stared at him.  "We'll figure it out.  Whoever did this is going to die.  Even if I have to shoot them myself."  The group walked off talking.  He did ask about the young man as well.  The detective wasn't very open about him but he understood why.  Personally, he agreed with the commander that said he could protect himself.  Though he did put out a call so they could ask him what he had heard about all this.

***

Xander walked into the police station with a sigh.  "Is Detective Tripp in?"  The receptionist got him and he sounded less happy to hear from him.  "That's why I told someone.  They wanted to ask me what I heard and when?"

"They do."  He walked him to an interrogation room and called the agents who wanted to know.   A general showed up with two senior Secret Service agents and another person.

Xander sniffed.  "Willow, go the fuck away.  I'm really not in the mood for it since I killed Wesley's father earlier when he broke in.  Apparently someone let him out of jail when we wounded him way back when."  She gasped and backed out.  Tripp shut the door.  "Thank you.  She's fairly upsetting to me most of the time.  Thinks I'm helpless too."  He turned his head to focus on the area he heard breathing.  "You're...."

"Hutchinson, Peters, Secret Service, sir," one said.  "You're Alexander Harris?"

"I am."

"What is your part in all that mess out in LA?"

"I warned someone.  I was also working to get better weapons to the people I knew were there the night before.  I only heard the night before.  Someone let it slip that they couldn't pay me the money they owed me because the demons were going to take over the next day.  Though, most of the weapons I had sent out were ignored."

"We found them," Peters said.  "That's a good selection."  Xander grinned.  "How did we get them?"

"I asked some poker contacts, some former dates, a whole bunch of people.  I make some odd connections now and then.  I have for years now."

"How do you know the group of people you sent weapons to?" the other agent asked.

"I used to work beside them until I lost my sight.  Then they decided I was helpless.  Though it has meant I met some very nice people over the last ten years.  Including Detectives McGarrett and Ellison."

"Interesting," Peters said.  "McGarrett raided your stash."

"I figured he did.  He knows he's more than welcome to it if something huge is going on.  I'd expect him to run in, grab something, use it, then come back and nag about things."  He smiled.  "Or send Danny to nag."

"You're familiar with their unit?"

"Detective Mack Wolfe was the one that I was handed to when I got moved to Hawaii for my own safety.  He introduced us in the last year."

"That's good," Peters decided.  "They watch over this death threat you have?"

"Yes, both of them.  They also like to pick on some of the people I've dated that aren't real nice.  For some reason I draw not real nice people."  He shrugged.

"Good to know," Tripp said.  "Is that how you made all those connections?"

"The mostly harmless and fully harmless demon community has a kitten poker circuit.  Including at one bar on another island out where I live.  I played back in Sunnydale and I still manage a game every now and then."

"That's reasonable," Hutchinson agreed.  "It probably keeps you in the loop if those that want to kill you are making new plans."  Xander smiled and nodded.  "Does that unit know that?"

"Yes.  Detective Wolfe told them.  When someone tried the other day they helped clean up the mess."

"Even better.  We have his file on you, Mr. Harris."

"How right is it?"

"I'm hoping it's totally wrong and blown everything out of proportion."

Xander shrugged.  "Not like I've read it, guys."

"It says you blew up a high school?"

"With the ninety foot demon snake inside it.  Yes."

"Why was there such a large demon?" Tripp asked.

"Our mayor turned into one.  He had worked for about a century to do it.  He's the reason that Sunnydale had such a high death rate.  He was working with the harmful demons to get his change.  Since it's his minions now in charge nothing much has changed."

Peters licked his lips.  "Sunnydale's a whole other topic."

"I haven't been back since the day they moved me to San Diego while sedated."

"I don't blame you for that, sir."  He looked at his partner.  "Who is Angel?"

"Dark haired vampire cursed with a soul?  Champion for the Powers That Be?  Those who're over the slayers," he said at the cleared throat.

"I think I saw him but he's disappeared."

"Ask his son Connor.  Or Buffy.  She used to date him."

"Eww," Tripp complained.

"Yeah, I didn't think he was good for her either, and gee, I was right."  The agents coughed to not laugh.  "What can I help you guys with to clear up things?  We don't want the peaceful demons being attacked.  There's been a lot of those since it happened."

"I understand why and the president's making a speech today about them being peaceful."  Xander nodded.  "The Council?"

"The Watchers Council?"

"Yes," Peters said.  "What do you know about them?"

"Have McGarrett get into my safe.  Wolfe knows the combination if Gretchen isn't there. I have a very thick information file written in a few languages on them and the law firm for hell."

"Law firm for hell?" Tripp asked.

"Yeah, if a higher demon gets caught they defend them and kill judges, warp juries, whatever to get them off.  The law firm's upper reaches have tried to take over LA a few times.  This time it was only partially them."

"Phone?" Tripp asked.  Xander handed his over.  It took him three tries to get it to come on.  "McGarrett," he said, finding it in the phone book.  He hit send and the agents took the phone to talk to him.  Tripp patted the boy on the head.  "I'm glad you're mostly normal."

Xander grinned.  "I had to fight that stereotype for years.  This time that's not so bad."  The agents came back.  "Everything okay out there?"

"Your housekeeper is back and fine.  He's out there looking over your weapons anyway.  He asked her and she got the files for him.  He said only a little bit's in English."

"A lot of demons use their native language.  Like most immigrants, it's the second generation that usually learns the native language."

"I can understand that."  Tripp patted him again.  "Which boyfriend gave you the bomb?"

"Former girlfriend actually and she's in London today."

"Good to know," Hutchinson said.  "Is she an arms dealer?"

"Designer.  It was a tester model.  Or so she told me."

"Good!"  Tripp patted him again.  They heard a growl and looked.  "What is that?"

"Melusia.  He knocked up my seeing-eye dog.  C'mere," he said, patting his lap.  He came over to put his head on Xander's knee and be petted.  "You were very helpful yesterday.  I'm very proud of you for it.  You're a good hellhound."  The dog barked and sat beside him, letting himself be petted.  "He kinda adopted me a little bit when I found him after he got hit by a car."  He petted the step-dog he had.

Tripp nodded.  "Aren't seeing-eye dogs sterilized?"

"Hellhounds are super fertile and she had her tubes tied, not the full removal," Xander said quietly.  "So I have nine puppies I'm working on the  training of.  I still miss my girl.  The lawyers shot her.  They missed me totally, or at least I hope they were aiming at me.  Otherwise I'm going to fuck them up more than usual."

"You do realize you're blind, right?" Hutchinson said delicately, for an agent.

"Yeah, I had noticed that," Xander said sarcastically.  "It's never stopped me from kicking ass before.  I'm actually better now than I was before because I got some training.  The docs even fixed my inner ear problem that kept making me trip.  I have a lot better situational awareness now and it helps me figure out where targets are."

"Hold on, you said you got someone earlier," Tripp said.  "I didn't get called."

"No, but I did see someone from the lab, who was clearly thinking I needed a mommy."

"Male, female?"

"Male.  Youngish.  Smelled like a slut with how many sweat scents were on him.  Because they weren't all his unless he's wearing gardenia perfume."

"Delko," Tripp muttered.  "I'll talk to him in a few."

"He's probably arguing with Willow.  Someone is."

Tripp opened the door and looked out there.  "Horatio, your idiot boy had to answer a  body call for this kid?"

"I was not aware of that.  Which one?"

"Said he smelled like multiple sweat samples, one of them gardenias."

"Eric?" he called.  He came jogging up the hall.  "You had a body call at this young man's house?"

"I'm nearly thirty-four," Xander called.  "And I don't need a daddy.  Please quit treating me like I'm twelve."

Tripp snorted, shaking his head.  "You don't look your age, kid, and I'm nearly fifty so old enough to have diapered you."

"Anything's better than mine was," Xander quipped and waved a hand in the air.

"Xander, you had to hide from someone?" Willow demanded as she walked in.

"No, I outright shot someone.  It was the fourth time this goddamn week," he said dryly.  "I'm assuming some of them were lawyers too."

"They were," Eric agreed.  "Where were the other three?"

"Handled by the Hawaii State Police.  They had my housekeeper hostage."  He grinned.  "I got a bit pissed off."  The dog growled.  "You, behave."  He petted him.  "Sorry, he's highly protective of me."

"Sure," Eric agreed, staring at the dog he could almost see.  "What is it since it looks invisible?"  Xander tapped it on the head once and it came into view.  "Oh," he said weakly.  "A one of those things."

Xander nodded.  "Yeah, but he's a good step-puppy.  He's the daddy to my seeing-eye puppies."

"Aw," Eric said.  "Let me get those reports."  He walked off before the dog decided he smelled good.

"You have a hellhound as a seeing-eye dog?" Willow asked, staring at it.

"He's a part time one because he doesn't have all the commands.  He's just really protective of me."  He smiled.  "He probably smells Sunnydale taint on you."  She backed out and left the room.  "Thanks.  Your perfume's kinda strong again.  Clearly the dog likes you for that girlish reason too."  She fled.  "Bye now."  He waved at the doorway.  Then he rolled his eyes.  He sighed.  "Anyway."  Tripp burst out laughing.  "She tried to help the stupid lawyers bribe my parents into getting custody of me too.  I'm *so* asking Blair's mother to have a talk with her.  The vegan hippie chick and she should have a *lovely* talk."

"That sounds like someone I know," Horatio said.

"Is her name Naomi Sandburg?" Xander asked.

"It is."

"I know her son.  He helped me a lot after this happened and I was learning stuff.  He's in LA right now."

"She's here protesting something at the power plant."

"I'll go see her later."  He smiled.  "Tripp, can you text message Blair and tell him that his mom needs to talk to Willow?  He and his ride-along partner were at the invasion from what I know.  It could help him unwind."

"Sure," he said, getting into the phone to send that message.

"Let's get back to the topic at hand," Agent Peters said gently.  "Though it is nice that you're more focused than Miss Summers."

Xander grinned.  "Half of that's an act on her part.  Me, I just need caffeine."

"We'll get you a diet soda," Tripp said, walking off.  He got a few hallways away before he let himself cackle.  That boy was seriously weird but fun.

***

Out in LA, Blair Sandburg looked at his phone, then showed it to Jim while he drank something.  It'd keep him from either cackling or babbling about that idea.

"That might need to be on pay-per-view," Jim said.

"Naomi's being non-violent again."

"She still wants to fuss over and mother Xander, Blair.  She'll have a good time teaching the girl the proper earthy ways."

"Could be," Blair admitted.  He texted his mother.  "I wonder where Willow is."  He sent one to Xander's phone.  Since clearly someone else had it at the moment.  Xander couldn't text message on his phone.  It didn't have a keyboard and he couldn't get the hang of the counting system for letters.  "I need some stress relief, Big Guy."

"I'm not going to Disney even if there was an apocalypse and we had lost.  Even if it would save everyone, Chief."

"Universal Studios?"

"More adult.  Find someone to ride the rides with you."  Blair grinned and wrote an email to a friend who lived locally.  The whole downtown part of LA was still in quarantine so he wasn't working.  The guy showed up and took them with him.  He was going to have some fun to celebrate surviving anyway.

***

Xander got out of the cab and walked up to the protest line.  "Naomi, I want you to talk to someone for me," he called.  She turned and stared at him.  "Willow's in town."  His phone rang.  "It's me."  He listened.  "Where is she?  Is she still in Miami?"  He nodded.  "That's cool.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "She's just went back to LA but can you talk to her the next time you're near her?"

"Why?"  She came over.  "You need a haircut."

"I need a lot of things.  A good massage and a new boyfriend or girlfriend comes to mind too."  He grinned.  "She showed up to not only try to help my parents gain custody of me but also down here to tell me how fragile and damaged I was."  Naomi was muttering her 'keep my temper' phrase.  "I think a *real* woman of the Goddess could help her a lot."

"I saw Blair's text and I agree.  If I'm nearby I'll gladly talk to her.  Now, you go rest.  You look tired, Xander.  And eat something."

"I will.  I have leftover chinese."  He grinned.  She helped him back to the cab and he went home.

Naomi walked off calling her friends.  She had friends in most states and a lot of areas where Willow would be known.  How dare that girl try to undo all the good work her son had done with Xander!

***

Xander had called home to check on Gretchen, finding her cranky.  Her healer wasn't allowing her to come on vacation with him until all her wounds were healed.  Xander had multiple run-ins with the local demon community, who were not happy they were now exposed to the world.  Xander had pointed out that he wasn't responsible but they weren't happy with anyone right now so he had to beat the crap out of one that had actually attacked him outside his apartment building and another that had tried to kill him in a grocery store.

Which had led to his guide freaking out but he had gotten her calmed down.  He had assured her that they weren't usually like that, they were just scared at the moment thanks to the invasion's consequences.  She agreed she was freaked out by it too.  The demon had apologized before Xander had let him run off and hide again.  Thankfully before the officers got there.  He knew no police department wanted to deal with demons at the moment.  That would probably lead to a lot of dead demons or officers if the demons tried to fight back.

He had heard one of the harmful ones in New York had killed an officer trying to scare him away from a young woman.  Which was a pity but he had noted to the department tip line how to handle that sort of demon and then encouraged them to find their city's watcher.  They had to have a set of manuals if they were in the field.  He had even left a good idea of how to find them.  Not that many book geek British citizens in New York who ran bookstores on a certain street.  He had also gotten a list of the local watchers that had retired to Miami and the surrounding areas.  That way the nice detectives that were helping him could had that resource and share with other departments they liked a lot.

He was on his tiny balcony when he heard a scream on the street below him.  He listened but he couldn't hear what was going on.  He went inside to call the doorman, who told him to stay up there.  There was an armed gunman downstairs.  Xander agreed he'd do that and hung up, walking off to grab his gun.  There weren't too many reasons for an armed man to be in this building.  It might be a slightly depressed neighborhood but it was the middle of the afternoon - not the time you did armed home invasions.  The lawyers next door had went back to New York the day before so as far as Xander could tell he was one of three tenants in the building.  Which meant it was good odds the armed guy was here for him.

Xander heard the door rattle and put himself out of immediate view from it.  There was a nice dividing screen that created an entryway.  It was probably really pretty.  It was also effective cover because Oscar the doorman had said it wasn't see-through.  The guy finally managed to pick the locks and walked in slowly and carefully.  Xander listened.  He took a step, paused, then took another one and paused.  Xander waited one more step then put his gun against the guy's head.  "Who the fuck are you?"

"Mr. Harris, I'm here to talk to you about your disastrous life goals."

"I'm sure you are," he said dryly.  "It won't matter when I blow your brains out."

"You're blind."

"Ya know, people keep telling me that," he said sarcastically.  "It hasn't mattered in the past, has it?"

"Perhaps."  He started to move and Xander shot him in the leg.  "Damn it!  What the fuck are you?"

Xander grinned.  "A hunter."  He heard footsteps coming off the elevator.  "Got backup?"

The guy sneered.  "You tell me."

"Identify yourself or I'm going to kill this lawyer that broke in," Xander called.

"Miami-Dade PD, sir," a female voice said.  She slowly walked in.  "Are you Mr. Alexander Harris?"

"Yup.  This lawyer scum just broke in to kill me."

"Okay," she said, pulling a gun.  "I can get you both."

"Freeze," a male voice ordered.  "Before I shoot you both."

Xander looked around the screen at the voice.  "Who're you?"

"Lieutenant Caine, with the crime lab, Mr. Harris.  Your detective friends talked to myself and Detective Tripp."

"Cool.  I shot this one in the knee."

"That's reasonable and leaves us able to question him."

Xander looked at the grinding sound.  "A suicide tooth, really?" he asked, looking amused.  "How 80's movie you are."

"I'll never talk.  They'll kill me."

"From what I've heard, there's some presidents and generals who want to kill all your bosses first, and the slayer wants them even more.  Both of the slayers actually from what I've heard."  The lawyer shrank back.  "So, Miss Officer, who paid you off?" he asked.

"It's an open contract," she muttered.  She started to move but Xander had his gun in her face at the first shift.  "Can you actually fire that thing?"  Xander used his free hand to point at the lawyer on the ground.  "Okay."

"Some of us are fantastic at compensating," Xander said with a smirk.  "Now, why don't you put your weapons down.  All of them since I can smell a stinky liquid leaking."

"Do so," Horatio agreed.  She disarmed herself and stepped back at Horatio's point.  He glared at the lawyer.  "You as well.  I have *no* patience for this."

"Don't worry, we'll make sure your people suffer for him catching me."  He sneered at Xander.  "You're not that good."

"You have *obviously* been listening to Buffy," he said dryly.  "Since she thinks I'm helpless and I need to sit in a corner and suck my thumb.  Too bad that's not my style."

"Mr. Harris, why don't you sit down out of grabbing range," Horatio ordered calmly.  "That way they can't try anything stupid until my backup gets here."

"Sirens are about a block away," Xander told him but he did follow orders.  This guy seemed pretty nice.  He might just have to flirt with this one.  He sounded nice and his guide said he was cute when they walked past a crime scene.  That was pretty much his type as long as the guy didn't start to get pitiful about his problems.  "So, Lieutenant, is there anything else that I should hear about today?" he asked with a slight grin.  He was told it made him look cute and wantable.

Horatio looked at him.  "I was going to ask you the same thing."  He smiled at the young man.  He was clearly out of practice for flirting.  Officers came off the elevator and walked around him, heading to the young man on the couch.  "I do believe he's the victim," Horatio said firmly.

Xander sniffed.  "Guys, one's a lawyer that caused all those problems," he said dryly.  "I'm sorry but the invasion wasn't *my* fault."

"You're still a problem that the demon community would like to end," one sneered.

Xander got up and walked into the kitchen, bringing out a bottle.  "I can open it and bleed into it if you really feel that way."

They stared and the other one snorted.  "They're dead."

"No, they're cold.  The dead ones got destroyed."

"Don't you dare," a voice said from behind Horatio.  He walked in.  "Steve said you were not to open those bottles under penalty of being beaten to death when he has to finish borrowing your artillery for the next assault."

Xander stared in his direction.  "Lieutenant, this is Detective Chin Kelly.  His cousin Kono loves to beat up my former dates for me."  He grinned.  "They decided I'm a problem to take out because I had nothing to do with the invasion."

"Yay," Chin said.  He glared at the two officers.  "I'm going to let McGarrett take out his frustration on you two."  They tried to flee but Horatio got them stopped.  He took the bottle from Xander to look at.  "Wolfe told us what they are.  Does the cold bother them?"

"It might slow them down when they come out."

"Uh-huh.  No."  He put it back into the freezer.  "Good, you still have all eight."  Xander nodded.  He looked at Horatio.  "He's sorry he moved to threatening humanity, Lieutenant."

"What are those?"

"They contain three little ancient, powerful demons each.  It's how he keeps the higher demons and the law firm off him.  Because they'd be minions just like the other demons would."

"Those ones were the sort that used to rule the world before humans took over," Xander said.  "They all know if it comes down to me or them, I'll pick them.  Every single time.  I'm not dying by their hand or the Council's."

"Most people would say the same," Horatio admitted.  Chin glared at him.  "I would."

"Perhaps but if they can't be stopped, they might try to destroy humanity."

"The slayer would huff and kill it.  I told her I was going to destroy humanity and she said I needed to quit dating."  He grinned.  "Then she said if I did open one of them she'd just blow it up like we did the last one."

"I do not want to know," Chin ordered.  He sighed, looking at the lieutenant.  "Also, McGarrett sent you a note that we need to investigate."  He handed over the sealed letter.  He looked at Xander.  "Wolfe was drunk about his ME friend's bitchy attitude and told Danny that he needed to watch out for something huge?"

"Um....," Xander said.  "Did he say if it was about something *medical* or something else?"

Horatio opened the letter.  "Medical."  He looked at the boy.  "Should I worry?"

"Only if someone kidnaps me," Xander said, waving a hand at the arrested people.

"I don't believe they'll be able to tell anyone about that," Horatio said.

One of the officers stared at him.  "You don't have magic."

Horatio stared at him.  "I don't need magic."  The demon shrank down.  "Will I?"  The lawyer sneered and laughed.  Horatio stared at him.  The lawyer shrank away from him.  "Thank you for cooperating."  He looked at Xander.  "Let's get you all to the office."  He called in to make sure someone realized they had sent dirty officers to help him. He was promised more help immediately and Frank Tripp showed up as well.  He was huffing and stomping when he got there.  "Frank, do calm down," he said quietly.  "Mr. Harris shot one in the knee."

"Xander, please," Xander said.  "I'm not formal."

Horatio smiled.  "Fine, Xander then."  Xander grinned back.  "Detective Tripp, this is Detective Chin Kelly.  His supervisor sent him out here to help."  He handed over the letter.

Tripp read it, frowning.  "That's bad."  He tucked it into his shirt pocket.  "We'll be finding out?"

Horatio nodded.  "As soon as we can get these people back to the station I believe we can run that test."  More officers showed up and he nodded at them.  "The officers tried the same thing the lawyer did.  The resident is not pleased."

"Any more I'm almost used to the death threats," Xander quipped.  "Especially from lawyers."

"You should not have to be," Horatio told him.  He helped him up, handing him his cane.  He took Xander's gun to make safe, taking it with them.  They'd have to test it for ballistics but he didn't want to leave Xander unarmed.  Detective Kelly followed texting someone.  Horatio smiled at him.  "Letting them know he's all right?"

"That way Steve can quit mentally swearing at the Council."  Xander turned his head to look back at him.  "They tried your house again but the fire department was very fast.  They barely burned the bushes in front of your doors.  Of course, we found they had done it because the bush shot spikes at them."

Xander grinned.  "I love my bushes.  The house and Gretchen's all right?  And the puppies?"

"Wolfe has the spoiled puppies at his place.  I think maybe they'll make good seeing eye dogs.  Or maybe body finding dogs.  They seem to be able to track."

"It's a skill I taught mine because it was handy," Xander said.  He got helped into a car and settled in.  "Why am I in a police car?" he asked.

"Because I'm riding with you," Tripp said.  Detective Kelly got into the back with him.  "That way you're protected, kid."  Xander nodded, getting comfortable.  "How did you know there was a problem?"

"I heard someone on the street complaining.  I called Oscar at the desk and he told me to hide because someone had a gun outside."

"We haven't seen Oscar but we'll look," Tripp said, telling one of the officers to search for him.  They drove back to the station, letting the ones under arrest be taken one direction while they took Xander in another to talk to him.  Horatio got their ME up to pull blood for them.  One of his CSI stopped him and Tripp to stare at them.  "What?" Tripp demanded.

"We see a lot of that boy."

"They just broke in to attack him," Tripp told her.  "He had to shoot a lawyer."

"Is he really blind then?  I don't know too many people who can do that."

Detective Kelly walked up to her.  "Harris has a history from before he was blinded.  He was dealing with a protection patrol thing in his former town.  No guns used from what I'm told but I know that his file did include some extra self protection training."

"How long has he been blind?" she asked.

"Ten years," Kelly said.  He smiled.  "He's done really good moving on no matter what his friends thought was right or good for him."

"Why does he have a file?" she asked.  "We found a sealed dossier in the federal systems."

"Because the group he had been part of stopped a special forces project."  She shuddered.  "When the two Marines his friends gave him to needed to hand him off after an attack, and he was barely out of the hospital, they gave the detective his full file that they could find.  Detective Mack Wolfe, the one they handed him to, said that his friends had to get drunk for nearly a week learning about the kid's past.  Though he never said anything.  Looking into it now still makes people want to drink.  Someone apparently hacked the lawyers and their file on him is either hopefully really wrong or we've all been protected by spoiled girls for years."

"I believe we've been protected by spoiled girls for years," Horatio said.  "I did some research on him myself and the files I found appear to be ...horrifying."  He smiled at his CSI.  "I believe that Mr. Harris is very surprising to many, mostly because he's had to be."  He smiled at the ME as she walked up to them.  "Alexx, we need to do some blood testing very quickly."

"I heard you say that," she said, smiling at him.  "I don't know you," she said with a smile, holding out her hand.  "Alexx Woods, the local ME."

"Detective Chin Kelly, Hawaii State Police."  He shook her hand.  "I got sent to check on someone."

"The same someone we need to draw blood from," Horatio said quietly.  "Especially with a group of lawyers who were behind that invasion the other day wanting him dead."

"The others are almost more horrifying.  They're over the girls that protect us all from them and they hate him for stepping in to not make it a solo duty," Kelly said with a smirk.  "They wanted it to be her, her watcher from them, and no one else.  They hate him because he helped her."

Horatio snorted.  "Then they're clearly bad for humanity."  He led Alexx to the interrogation room, letting her proceed him.  "Xander, this is Alexx Woods, our ME.  She's going to draw blood so we can test what's in the note."

"Mack said he found enough to be worried.  I can guess about a few of them."

"We can find out for sure," Horatio said.  "It won't take very long and then we can make sure that you're well protected."

"That might be nice.  I don't think I've slept well since I got here since I've been alone."

"Hell," Chin muttered.  "Steve was getting you someone else to guard you."

"Did Steve beat him enough to find out why he left?" Xander asked.

"He got killed before you took off from the last airport.  He got you on the plane and then dealt with whoever was following you but apparently they took him out.  The officers there aren't sure if it was demonic, lawyer, or council related.  When we found that out we sent them a synopsis on who wants to kill you.  Hopefully they'll figure it out."

Xander grimaced.  "Then I'm sorry I thought such mean things should happen to him because he left me for flirting."

"I'm sure he'd understand, though Steve did say he would've left you for flirting with a guy.  He didn't know that before."  He helped get Xander's sleeve up.  "Let's get this done," he said quietly.  "That way Steve knows how high he has to nag to get you someone."

"Can't Gretchen come out?"

"Not yet.  Steve doesn't think she's enough protection either."

"Maybe but I'd be able to sleep and she can straighten things out for me.  Do I even match this morning?"

"No," Chin said.  He patted him.  "I'll help you tonight."  Xander nodded, relaxing some.  Alexx drew the blood they'd need to test and cleaned up the area so she could bandage it.  "There, done," Chin said.

Xander grinned at him.  "Thanks."

"Not a problem, Sugar."  She walked off, taking Horatio to help her run the samples through the machines.  He knew what they were running it for.

Tripp got a statement from him about what had happened this time.  Internal Affairs showed up fuming about the officer arrests without warning him when he was mostly done.

Xander looked toward the fuming man.  "Sure, next time I'll go psychic and tell you first when people break in to kill my pretty ass."  The IAB officer flinched, he could hear that and his step away from him.  "For that matter, I'll do the same for the ones in Hawaii that did the same damn thing.  And while I'm at it, I'll beg someone to come eat them so no one has any paperwork.  Anything else you want to demand I do since apparently I'm a divine being in more than the sack?"  The officer spluttered.  "Eww, spit.  Real men swallow."  The officer stomped off.

Chin burst out laughing.  "Nice job, Xander."

"Thank you.  I hate huffy assholes unless they're huffy because I'm telling them they can't give me a blow job, male or female.  I have enough stress in my life without people like that.  Especially since some conservative asshole moved in next door to me.  I'm *so* putting up a pagan shrine so they have something new to complain about."

"Danny heard when they came over to ask if he had control of you," Chin admitted.  "He told them off pretty well and Kono finished it."

Xander grinned.  "If she didn't think I was too adorable and dangerous to date, I'd flirt with that woman.  She smells really nice."

"Unfortunately she wants someone a bit softer," Chin said.  "Or else we'd let you as long as you didn't turn her mean.  By the way, Gretchen said that Monica said hi?"

"Huh.  Met her on a beach."  He grinned.  "She was a coed, really pretty feeling.  Went on to be a security guard and then a prison guard."

Chin nodded.  "Wow.  Well, maybe you'll find someone nicer now that demons are out of the closet and the Council is in trouble."

"That'd be great," Xander agreed.  "I could date without worrying if they were going to stab me in the middle of sex."

Chin patted him, shaking his head.  "We're all hoping you find someone nice."

Xander grinned.  "I want smart, kind of cute, and soft hearted without pitying me.  Plus a bit tough."

"I'll have Kono ask her friends."  Horatio came in.  "Already?"

"A bit longer.  I saw Rick?"

"He fled when Xander told him next time he'd go psychic and call him before an officer tried to kill him," Tripp said dryly.  "If you do, let us know too, Xander."  Xander grinned at him.  He grinned.  "You relax in here for a bit.  Call your housekeeper."

"My phone isn't working and I don't know why."

Chin took it to look at.  "No idea.  It says it has minutes on it."  He called.  No signal.  No automatic redirect to customer service asking for payment.  "I have no idea what's going on."  He called Xander's number and let him have the phone.  As soon as he touched it, it went dead.  "That's interesting."  He took it back and tried it.  No signal, nothing.

Horatio took it to look at, scowling at the device.  "What happened to that?"

"I don't know," Xander said.  "Is that why mine doesn't work?"

"Probably," Chin said.  "I'll get one later and we'll see if speaker phone will do the same thing."  Xander grinned and nodded.  "She's fine.  Mack's been over most days to check on her.  Mostly with the dogs so they got some running around the yard time."  Xander nodded.  "So we're sure she's fine.  I have no idea when she can come out with you though, or when they'll let you come home."

"Miami's pretty but I can't get hit on in the strip clubs.  Everyone seems to see the cane and sighs in displeasure.  I have no idea why they can't see past the cane to the fine man who likes to date."

"A lot of Miami is all about the shallow and prettiness," Tripp told him.  "I could barely get any play and neither does Horatio."  Horatio scowled at him.  He smiled back.  "You don't date enough."

"Dating is important because man is not meant to be alone," Xander said.  "Or else we turn into slobs who have a lot of dirty dishes and clothes."

"Fortunately Gretchen makes sure you don't have to trip over yours," Chin teased.

Xander grinned.  "Gretchen's nearly family.  I could never hit on her."

"I know."  He patted him again.  The Internal Affairs officer showed back up.  "Should I tell the person getting him a new guard that he has to be wary of most officers?"

"No," he sneered.

Xander glared at him.  "Sneer at my detective friend again.  Really."  The man backed up.  "Anyway, Lieutenant, how long before that's done?"

He checked his watch.  "Twenty minutes."  He went to check on it before he got into it with Stetler again.

"Were you an officer, Mr. Harris?" Stetler asked.

"No, I used to help protect my town.  I did that for five years and a bit because my town had a double digit death rate.  Which was really high for a town that has under a hundred thousand people if you include both colleges."

"Your department didn't mind?" Stetler sneered.

"My department never came out of the office unless it was politically motivated or they could get something on someone to get their happies for the week.  Hell, my town's officers actually attributed a high count of deaths to barbeque fork accidents."

"There's no way," Tripp said.

"Sunnydale, California," Xander said.

Stetler stomped off to look up that town.  He came back looking horrified and less sneering.  "How in the hell did they not get shut down?"

"We have no idea," Xander admitted.  "I know that most of the PD there got sacrificed by someone trying to summon a really high demon a few months ago.  I know before the mayor was making a lot of deals to help him turn into a giant snake demon.  He did it during our graduation actually."  Xander shifted and crossed his feet.  "Otherwise, I have no clue.  I haven't went back to Sunnydale since the day they sent me out drugged so I would quit fighting their plans to supposedly make me safer while I learned how to be blind."

"They're still protesting that Xander should be sitting at home being protected," Chin said.  "One showed up in Hawaii to tell him that."

Xander smiled.  "I asked Blair's mother to talk to her for me."

Chin patted him on the back.  "I'll stay tonight so you get a full nights sleep again, kid."

"You're not that much older than me," Xander complained.

"No I'm not," he agreed.  Horatio walked back in with papers not looking happy.  "That bad?"

Horatio put them on the table so he and Tripp could see them.  "How did you get exposed to some of that?"

"When I was working construction I fell into a native burial chamber.  The spirits hated me for it.  What else is there?"

"When did you get a hemorrhagic fever?" Tripp asked quietly.

"No clue unless that's what the Council tried about five years ago?  I know I got hellishly sick and ended up in the hospital for a good week or so and the nurses all smelled really afraid.  Can we tell when that was?"

"No.  They all read as older ones you've mostly gotten rid of.  You have a very small antigen count for everything but this one."  Chin said it in his ear.

"Oh!  That was the stupid lawyers last year."  He nodded.  "I got really sick and Gretchen called in a healer for me.  It came in as a gas grenade through the window.  Fortunately my dog was at the vet's for the night being babied over a stomach ache.  Which they probably gave her."

"Could be," Chin agreed.  He looked at Horatio.  "Did you send that to my people?"

"I did stop to call and fax it to Detective Williams."

"Danny's a really nice guy but he's got a temper," Xander admitted.  "Mostly with Steve."  Chin laughed and nodded.  "But his daughter's cute.  I ran into her out and about.  She and the puppy I was working with got along very well.  I said if one didn't go into training she could have one if they said it was fine."

"Her mother let you talk to her?" Chin asked.

"Yeah.  She was sitting right there and Danny was nagging me about something on the phone.  She heard her father's voice."

"Huh.  I didn't know that.  Do you think they won't all go?"

"It's a high bar to be a seeing eye dog.  Like being SWAT instead of a regular officer."

"That's good to know."

"Some of mine are too bouncy but they're good, smart, protective dogs.  Maybe three of the nine will make it and another three or four might get passed to those who train them for other purposes.  They'd do good with that.  Which leaves one for Mack if he wants one and one for her."

"She'd probably love a dog."  He looked at his phone when it rang.  "Wonderful."  He answered it.  "Detective Kelly."  He listened.  "No, for some reason I handed him my phone and it quit working.  I was going to let him talk to Gretchen since his phone died the same mysterious death.  Talking about that and his dogs.  Is Danny going to let him give the sprout one?"  He smiled.  "He said that was fine with him.  The dogs were good and protective so he wouldn't worry as much about her safety."  Xander nodded, grinning some.  "So now what?"  He listened, making notes.  "I can do that.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "You're to report for the meeting in Colorado in a few days.  He'll get you an escort from there.  He wants you to leave tomorrow if you can."  He looked at Horatio, who nodded they could handle that.  "Good."  He checked his phone, still dead.  "Huh."  Horatio texted the number that he had called and they were able to text in but not out.  Chin shook his head.  "I hate that magic shit."

"With my luck, it's Willow trying to prove to me that I'm helpless and need protected," Xander said dryly.

"If so, I'd like to talk to her," Chin said with a smile.

Horatio took the test results and kept them when Rick Stetler reached for them.  "Those are classified.  You have no need to know."  He stared at the young man then the younger detective.  "Go ahead and take him home so you can pack for that.  I'll trust you to protect him tonight?"

"Of course I am.  I can't let Xander show me up."

Xander snorted.  "I'm not that badass.  I never was, I'm just trained a bit better now."  He stood up and took his cane off the table to unfold.  "Been great, guys.  Thank you for all your help."  He held out a hand for Tripp and Horatio to shake.  "Tell the pretty smelling one that she can quit worrying.  I've never harmed anything that wasn't harming something or someone else."  He walked out with Chin guiding him.

"Interesting.  Calleigh?"  She stomped in, scowling.  "I'm sure you heard."

"I did.  He's not right."

"I don't really care," he admitted with a smile for her.  "As far as I'm concerned you're still one of the best CSI in the city."  She smiled back.  "Shred this without looking at it."  She took it to do that.  He looked at Frank then at Stetler.  "I caught a few of them trying to kill him and did take the poison or whatever it was off the other."

"They're already on their way to their arraignments."  He stomped off.  He wanted to know more about that boy before he caused his city more problems.

Horatio shook his head.  Sometimes Rick deserved the bad karma he got.  This was looking like one of those times.

***

Chin handed Xander to the waiting military officer.  "You're his guard?"

"I am."  He smiled.  "Colonel John Sheppard, just recalled for this meeting."

"Xander Harris.  That used to be my part-time, non-paying, thankless job."

John grinned.  "That figures.  Nothing that noble pays well."  Xander nodded.  "No service dog?"

"Lawyers shot her a few months back."

"Okay.  We can handle that.  We put you in the same hotel as most of the people invited to this talk."

"Just keep the blonde and the redhead away from him," Chin warned.

"We've heard."  He shook his hand.  "Thank you."

"It's not a problem.  Xander's a really nice, sweet guy.  Who dates really horrible people we get to arrest."  He walked off.  "I'll see you in a few days back in Hawaii, Xander."

"Okay."  He unfolded his cane and let John walk him off.  "You smell like you've been on the ocean."

"My posting usually is but I got recalled for a briefing with a few others.  Colonel Mitchell, who was at the invasion, arranged for the meeting to share information.  We have the files you have on both entities that we need to be concerned about.  And a lot of information on how the demon networks work."

"A lot are harmless or peaceful and I'd never want them hurt."

"We agree.  If they're peaceful, it's not our job to change that for them."  Xander relaxed and nodded.  "Bags?"

"Two.  Do I have my carry-on?"

"The detective handed it to me."

"Thanks.  I'm a bit scatterbrained since I didn't have anyone to watch my back when they sent me to Miami.  I got some great sleep last night and hopefully will again today."

"I'm sure you will.  The hotel's got a really soft bed, a lot of security right now because there's a few higher level generals in, and you'll have soldiers to protect you from those scary women you used to work with."

Xander grinned.  "Buffy could probably kick their butts."

"Maybe but there's more of us to jump in if she tries.  Or if Rosenburg turns more into ponies or gerbils."

Xander snickered.  "She's got a frog phobia."

"That explains why gerbils."  He took the ticket stub with the baggage tickets to get the bags while Xander waited on a bench.  When he came back, someone greenish-teal was talking to Xander quietly looking upset.  "Problems?"

"No, he wanted to make sure that I could remind the slayer that not everyone was involved," Xander said.  "If she breaks that I'm so calling her mother back from the dead to kill her."

The demon smiled.  "Thank you, Knight.  It is good how you've stood up for us, even after your accident."  He left them alone.

"I'd hope that no one would go after any peaceful being," John said.  He helped Xander up.  "One red, one blue?"  Xander nodded.  The bags got checked by airport security and they were allowed to leave.  "We are taking a cab back, I didn't have time to rent a car."

"I can rent a car as long as they haven't touched my bank accounts again," Xander offered.

"They probably have.  I know someone was trying something that way.  We were warned and one of my program's hackers torched their butts for it."  Xander grinned.  "They do it often?"

"Yeah and my financial guy doesn't seem as protective as he used to be.  I'll have to look into that."

"Sometimes it happens.  Even after ten years or so."  John got them into a cab and to the hotel.  The doorman got them a trolley for the bags and John walked him to the desk.  "Xander Harris."

"Yes, I have his reservation here," the desk girl said, pulling it up on her computer.  She looked at him.  "Mr. Harris, will you need any accommodations while here?" she asked a bit loudly.

"I'm mostly okay," he said quietly.  "I might need some directions now and then but I can usually find my way around pretty well."  He smiled.  "Thank you for asking though."

"Not a problem, sir.  We want your stay to be really great so you come back some day."

He smiled.  "Maybe some day I'll get to sightsee."  He winked and took the key card John handed him, walking off.  "Elevators are this way, right?"

"Yes, sir.  They ding pretty loudly."

"Cool.  Always handy," he quipped with a grin for her.  They got on the elevator.  "Was she giving me the pity look?" he asked quietly.

"A tiny one but not that bad.  It's nice she asked if you needed anything special, even if she thought you were hard of hearing too."

Xander grinned.  "Sometimes people think that the two go together.  I actually have very sensitive hearing thanks to being possessed in high school."

"How did that happen?"

"In a Xander method that only I seem to be able to do," Xander sighed.  John laughed.  Xander felt the sign next to the elevator and walked in the right direction.

"I know from experience you're on the other side of the floor so it's actually a few less steps this way," John said, guiding him and the cart.  Xander nodded, following along.  "Also, they're on that side."

"Then it's probably a good idea.  Can we walk faster?"  John smiled but got him into his room within two minutes.  Xander sat down with a sigh and flopped backwards.  "Which bag is on which side?"

"Red is on the headboard side of this second bed.  Need help with that?"

"No, they're color sorted so I don't look like a mismatched kid."

John nodded.  "That's wise."  He handed him the TV remote.  "There's a few music stations up around the two hundreds.  There's a good cable package here if you want to listen to something.  The radio on the clock is a bit staticky if it's anything like my room's.  The window," he said, opening the curtains.  "Why is there a guy hanging out there?"

"No clue," Xander admitted, turning his head that way.  He heard a whine.  "That's a weapon."  John and he moved to the bathroom before the thing finished firing.  John called for backup for them.  Two soldiers and a tiny blonde woman ran in to handle it.

"How dare you try to hurt Xander!  He's helpless!" Buffy shouted as she beat him.  "You don't hurt the Xander."

Xander walked out and stared down at where he could hear panting.  "Which one are you with?" he asked patiently.

"You're going to die, Knight!  There's no way you'll be allowed to exist and hold us all hostage!"

"If the Council and the law firm would leave me alone, I'd just dust the bottles.  Since they won't....."  He smirked.  "I have to keep shooting people."  The demon whined and tried to move.  Xander pulled his gun and pointed it at him.  "Are you really trying that with me?"

"No, Hyena Knight!  I'm sorry!  We're all very sorry!  I have a family, please don't!"

"Then I'd run back to your family and never think about attacking me again.  Because attacking me means that I go for that option, even though I'd hate to unleash it.  Am I clear?"  The demon whimpered but nodded.  "Out loud, it's not like I can hear nodding."

"Yes, Knight.  I will pass that on."  He got up.  "Thank you."

"Shoo.  You're screwing up the scent profile in the room with your aftershave."  The demon fled.  He sighed and walked out, heading for the soda machine.  He had change on him.  John followed casually behind him.  "How much is the machine?" he asked after feeling around.

"Dollar fifty.  Bit high but it's a hotel."

"Figures.  They really should put a little Braille plaque on these so we can tell."  He checked his change then got out his wallet.  "One?"

"Five.  I don't see any ones."  He changed one for him and let the kid get himself a soda.  By the time they got back, Buffy had been forced to leave.  They had heard them forcing her to go away up the hall.  John smiled.  "Cam, this is Xander Harris," he said.

"Pleasure," Xander said, holding out a hand.

Cam shook it.  "It's a pleasure to meet you too.  That bomb you got however and had sent with the hellhound helped us immensely."  Xander grinned.  "The hotel is going to move you to a more secure room."

"That's cool," Xander agreed.  "I've had a lot of attacks over the years."

"What was he talking about?" John asked.

Xander walked in and patted down his carry-on, finding the little bag of bottles.  "These."

Cam took them to look at.  "There's tiny things in there."

"Ancient, powerful demons."  He grinned.  "It's what keeps the Council and Wolfram and Hart mostly away from me.  They know I only need a reason to release them so they can handle being minions."  He smiled.  "Because I'm not the bitch to screw with."

"Clearly," John agreed.  He put the bags back.  Hotel security showed up to escort them to the safer room.  Which wasn't really.  John looked around then at him.  "I thought this was supposed to be safer."

"It is, sir."

"With wall-to-wall windows?" Cam asked.  Someone knocked then walked in.  "Sir," he said, nodding.

"Agent Hutchinson," Xander said with a nod at him.  He smelled like him so it was a reasonable assumption it was him.

"Mr. Harris.  Let's get you somewhere safer."

"This is very safe," the hotel security person said.

"I'm Secret Service."

"Then I'll leave it in your hands.  Let us know if the hotel can help," the hotel person said, leaving them alone.

Xander shrugged.  "Not my fault."

"We know, sir."  He looked around.  "We can move him somewhere safer."

"That'd make getting him to the meetings harder," John said.  "Is there a less bright and sunny room?"

"Two.  Both are sub-prime and very bad," Hutchinson said.  Xander shrugged.  "Okay, we can arrange that."  He went to talk to the hotel's manager, who understood the reasons behind needing somewhere less open to being shot or attacked.  They decided on a block of rooms on a lower floor, moving Sheppard and Mitchell with him.  They weren't too pleased but they were still nice rooms.  They just didn't have a view outside a brick wall across the alley.

Xander sniffed and nodded.  "Well at least I'll be able to find it again easily."  John patted him.  "Which is which?"

"Blue is on the TV stand, red is on the chair," John said quietly.

"Thank you."  They went to their own rooms.  Xander laid down and turned on the TV to get some noise.  He slept better with noise.  It might even let him forget about the trash smells.

***

Xander walked into the meeting room the next morning, John following a few minutes behind him.  "Good morning, everyone."

"Morning," John said as he walked in.

"Why weren't you with him?" Willow demanded.  "He can't get around."

Xander located her by her perfume, which she had never changed, and swatted her with his cane.  "Shut up, Willow.  I'm not helpless."

"Wrong female," Buffy quipped.

"Then I'm sorry, ma'am, but you smelled like the bitch."

"No, I can pass that one on," she said, hitting Willow harder than he had hit her.  "Because even I know that's wrong."  She pushed out a chair.  "Here, you can make it up to me by sitting next to me so I'm distracted from the stupid things."

Xander grinned.  "Sometimes stupid things are necessary.  Like watching stupid TV shows like _South Park_ for stress relief."  He sat down and folded his cane to put in front of him.  "So anyway, why the meeting?"

"We wanted to know some things you all have partial knowledge of," the general in charge said.  "Mr. Harris, I know you're still fairly well connected to the demon community so you can keep track of those who keep trying to kill you."

"Yes, and recently it's been a lot that have decided that us fighting the invasion and winning was going to destroy all of the peaceful communities as well."

"I have no interest in peaceful ones.  I know one of the generals being put over the problem doesn't feel the same way all the time but me, personally, I don't care as long as they're not a danger to the US."

Xander nodded.  "They'd like to hear that."

"They might attack them," Buffy said dryly.

Xander nodded.  "Better them than me for you guys winning and me sending that bomb."  He shifted to be more in line with the general again.  "What did you want to know?"

"The demon networks, specifically the information networks to start with.  How do they operate?  Is there an agency, some sort of intelligence gathering group or species?"

"Some of it's the kitten poker gossip circuit," Xander said.  "Some of it's information from relatives.  Some of it's gathered by some groups off realm and spread."

"So there's more than one realm, right?" the woman next to him asked.  All the Sunnydale people nodded.  "How many?"

"No damn clue," Xander admitted.  "I know there's over a thousand.  There's nine-hundred-sixty-one that are counted as hell realms.  There's been a few wars that have wiped out some in the last century from what I heard.  There was a demon storyteller at the bar in Cascade a few years back who was going over history stuff.  I stayed to listen."

"That's fine," she agreed, smiling at him.  "How many more beyond hell realms?"

"Maybe at least another thousand," Willow said.  "No one's totally sure."

"If my phone worked I'd call someone to ask if they had an estimate but for some reason if I touch any phone it quits letting calls out and only a few newer ones will let calls in."

"That's an interesting curse," Buffy said.

"It has made staying in touch with my housekeeper fairly difficult," Xander admitted.  "Or the people training the puppies."

"You have puppies?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, Melusia knocked up my seeing eye dog."

"Oh," she said, sharing a look with Buffy.  "Is that a girl dog?"

"He's a hellhound."

"Never mind."

Xander turned his head toward the general again.  "As far as we know there's possibly millions and most of them don't migrate here.  I know of ten that're being migrated from currently, all due to wars, and one that we had a mass leaving from because of a drought.  We got some, some other realms got some."

"That's reasonable to me, sounds like what our people would do."

"Giles said that most demon realms are either demon controlled or they and humans learned to live together.  There's a few where their humans won."

"One of those has a drought and they went to another demon realm to conquer it in their name," Xander said.

"Wonderful."  He shook his head.  "So ours here are some immigrants, some leftover from the bad old days way back in history, and some that are summoned here?"  The three who knew nodded.  "Even better.  About this Council?"

"Did you get the files they got out of my safe?" Xander asked.

"We did and had someone drive themselves nuts translating most of it.  Thank you for putting some in Braille, even if it was in German Braille."  Xander grinned.

"Why would you put it in another language?" Buffy asked.

"So if anyone got hold of it they probably wouldn't be able to read it," Cam Mitchell told her.  "It's very tactically sound."  Xander nodded he was right.  "How often do you get to your local demon bar, Xander?"

"Gretchen and I go about every month so she can help me play a few hands of cards."

"Your housekeeper's a demon?" Buffy asked, frowning at him.

"Half, though no one's ever said anything.  She's been good to me and helped me a lot when I was still learning how to do things.  She even lets me cook sometimes.  The grill is my job whenever we're using it."

She and Willow shared a look.  "You don't worry about her?" Buffy asked.

"She's been with me for over ten years," Xander said firmly.  "You go near Gretchen and I'm going to kill your dyed blonde ass."

"Fine, whatever.  Just trying to look out for you."

Xander sighed.  "I don't need the help.  Or the constant put downs.  I do know I'm blind and yes, I do handle most everything myself.  Outside having someone watching over my accounts for whenever *someone* tries to hack it again.  By the way, Willow, how is your computer?"

She moaned.  "The Council said if I didn't, they were going to kill Buffy."

Xander nodded.  "So you turned on one friend to save another and they're still going to kill her.  Congrats.  Buffy, I'd learn how to use a gun.  It might save you a few times."

"There's no reason to be mean," Buffy complained.

"I shot three Council people in the last month," he told her.  She slid down in her seat.  "They're still planning on how to wetworks you.  I heard the other day they've finally gathered a rare potions ingredient so they can kill you long distance.  It'll get any slayer imbued with the calling."  She stiffened, he could feel the tension.  "They may try to rush me but they're going to work on destroying you.  They really hate you just as much as they do me.  Plus, with demons being in the open, the Council got light shined on it and they hate that."

"Damn it," she muttered.  "When?"

"No clue.  It takes at least a moon cycle to brew it, can take up to three if you're doing the more complicated version, and their potions person has to be rescued from South Africa first.  So probably within six months at the latest."

She huffed.  "I'll have Giles talk to them."

"I'm going to release one of those bottles in their building."  Xander grinned.

"Then they'd want us to kill us," Willow complained.

Xander nodded.  "So?"  He shrugged.  "I'm safer if they're dead.  She will be too."

"It's not ethical," Willow said.

"Who said I had ethics?  I've been living on my wits for over ten years, Willow.  Not like I had a whole lot of support outside the detective who watched over me.  Usually I got to call him after something happened, not before.  Ethics means I would've been dead *years* ago.  Probably when they were first trying things.  I have very little ethics about the Council or Wolfram and Hart.  As far as I'm concerned it's them or me and I'm not going to go down that way."

"You really have ancient demons trapped in a bottle?" Buffy asked.

"Eight bottles with three each."  He smiled.  "They're very handy.  It keeps the attacks down to one every four or five months."

"Huh."  She and Willow shared a look.  "Maybe that's dangerous, Xander."

"Maybe I don't care, Buffy.  Me having them means me not dead."

"Oh."  She grimaced.  "It's still not right."

"Yay."

"Enough," Cam ordered.  "I see both points.  Xander has them on a very pointy rock to keep the attacks down and himself safe.  That's probably because he has no one to watch his back.  Mostly because you two sent him away from what I heard."

"Sunnydale's dangerous.  They could have turned him or taken him as a minion," Buffy complained.  "Beyond that, he can't take care of himself!"

"Yes I can.  Ask the guys in Miami who had to clean up all four attacks on me.  They were very impressed when they took me to the range and tested my marksmanship skills."  Buffy was giving him a horrified look, he was sure of it.  "They had to add breathing sounds to the target but it went where I wanted it to.  The same as it has for all the other attacks on myself, my house, and my housekeeper.  Hell, the same day that farce of people bribing my parents and Willow happened, I shot three.  Then the Council and the lawyers teamed up to try to kill me."

Buffy slunk down again.  "Whatever.  You still can't protect yourself.  That's why you have a housekeeper."

"Actually, I mostly have her so I don't have to vacuum or do laundry."  He smirked.  "And she's really good company when I'm shopping.  By the way, I just spent six weeks in Miami all by myself.  No housekeeper, no guard, nothing."  She got up and stomped out.  He stared in Willow's direction.  "I can feel the spell."

"What spell?"

He concentrated and it backlashed on her.  "Protections," he quipped with a grin.  She was whimpering.  "How much did they bribe you, Willow?  And was it both or just the law firm?"  She got up and huffed out too.  "Sorry.  They'll be back later I'm sure.  Probably to tell me I'm helpless some more."  He looked toward the general again.  "If you sink Sunnydale, send out a notice through Willie's Alibi Bar.  That's the demon hang out and they can make sure the local council there and everyone else hears."

"We can do that.  There's two colleges though."

"Adams should still be mostly shut down.  The other one, UC Hellmouth, is far enough away that if you sink downtown it won't get caught.  Unless you do something to the huge base underneath."

"No, that we filled with concrete," the general said.  "Are you sure they were bribing her?"

"Yup.  She showed up with my parents, who were being bribed, to try to get me into my parents' control again.  She hacked my account earlier by what the computer in the business room said.  My financial guy is clearly either bribed or under some sort of compulsion so I had Gretchen find me a new one or to fix him.  So we'll see pretty soon which one it was.  Especially since I had the bank allow a delayed curse on my funds for whoever steals it."

"How did you get that money?" John asked.

"Three of the bottles had faulty seals and had woken some of the beings inside enough that some died.  Some people bought them off me to destroy them.  I'm not intending to use them but if I have to, I know how to kill one now.  I'll open it in the offending party's offices and then kill it before it gets free."

"Without her help?" John asked.

"Yeah, without her help.  See, I seem to have a draw for the bad boy and girl society, including some that sell weapons.  That's how I got the bomb; I asked an ex."

"Over the years you've collected a few things to protect yourself," John said.  Xander smiled and nodded.  "How big?"

"That depends on what Steve brought with him to the invasion."

"Can we have an inventory?" the general asked nicely.

"No, but McGarrett can.  He has right of grabbing to use too."

"That'll work.  I remember when he was in the service.  I made sure it was him after the invasion.  I'll let him guard it with you in case something happens on one of the islands."

Xander grinned.  "There's a small sacrificial cult to one of the volcano gods, but they're not interested in humans and tend to shun us all as being evil, wicked, and dirty because we poop."

"Good to know," the woman beside Xander said.  "Does he know?  Your friend I mean."

"He never asked and if I thought they were a threat to humans I'd have told him.  Actually, when I was in Miami I got a list of all the watchers down there to give to the lab.  I sent it to the lab's email address.  I sent another to the NYPD tip line about the demon that had killed that officer and how to kill it, plus where I heard their watcher was."

"That's really helpful," John agreed.  "Are there any locally?"

"I heard that there's a Council guy somewhere in Denver, but that was a few years back so I'm not sure if he's still there or alive.  His wife's family needed them from what I heard.  If I could get my phone to work, I'd call."

"I can see if I can ask," Cam said.  "They seem to know my project pretty well."

John nodded.  "I had a 'thank you for saving your city' note with my coffee."

Xander smiled.  "You're on the flying city of misery?"

"She doesn't cause us misery," John said, but he was smiling.  "What have you heard about that?"

"Most of the misery was people being depressed that they're being eaten.  No idea beyond most of that and a note that the power issue was critical but someone had done something on purpose to show where an idea was.  Also that your head scientist was loud and I should flirt with him."

"He's straight, or else I'd encourage it," John said.  "He could use someone nice and so could you from what I've heard.  Rodney definitely wouldn't let you hide behind the dark glasses all that often.  You'd have to go out with him and eat with him, all that."

"That might be nice.  Most of my dates are dinner or a drink and then the bedroom. They never seem to want more.  I'd really like more.  I'd like to have someone steady again."

"Maybe sometime soon," John offered.

"I'll definitely ask some of my friends," the woman next to him offered.  "Did they say that they had any information on the city's structures or things?"

"There's a huge demon culture library on Pervada.  It's not open to humans.  It has historical records from all the known demon species.  I'd guess it might be in there.  If not, there's a few other ancient libraries floating around on the demon realms but again, mostly not open to humans. I can ask Gretchen to ask around when I get back."

"Please."  She smiled and patted his arm.  "It could really help them a lot."

"I'd like to see everyone be safe and happy," Xander said.  "If I can help I will."

"The one last night called you a hyena knight once," Cam said.  "Why?"

"Back in high school I was possessed by one."  He grinned.  "She's helped a lot since the incident that got me blinded."

"The knight part is because he's considered a white knight," a male voice said as they walked in.

"I am," Xander agreed.  "How're you, Spike?"

"Not bad.  Bint's pissed at you."

"Yeah, yay."  He shrugged.  "I pointed out some uncomfortable truths, including that the Council has a new plan to kill any activated slayers."

"That's gonna suck since Rosenburg added a few new ones after the invasion to help keep things calm."  Spike flopped down and nodded at everyone.  "Name's Spike."

"Spike's a master vampire," Xander said.  "The team worked with him after the Initiative got hold of him.  How're things otherwise, Spike?"

"Not bad.  You?"

"I'd be really happy and content if all this means that the Council and the lawyers leave me the hell alone."

Spike snickered.  "Might be nice, yeah.  Lawyers put out a new price on your head.  Thirty mil, dead and only dead."

Xander sighed but nodded.  "Did you tell Gretchen?"

"Yup.  She's not happy.  You know she's a halfie, right?"

"Yeah, I have known even though everyone decided to keep that from me.  She and I work pretty well together, even if she does try to remind me to be nicer to the community when they've just pissed me off.  I'm pretty sure a few of the higher ups have come to her to get me to relax and let myself calm down or something too."

"I heard rumors she was a plant by the community to keep track of you and your wild brained ideas."

Xander grinned.  "I'll gladly kill them once they've eaten the lawyers or the council."

"Could like that, yeah," Spike decided.  He looked at the general.  "Smuffy and Red will be back soon.  They're being girls again."

"Eww, TMI," Xander muttered.

"Couldn't tell?" Spike taunted.

"No, the hyena's senses aren't that sensitive to blood scents unless I'm actively using them to track something.  There's times I'm a fantastic scent dog."

Spike shook his head with a sigh.  "I heard about her."

Xander grinned.  "It was nice in a way."  He shifted in his chair.  "Anyway, General.  The answer you're probably looking for is probably in a bar in Idaho this week.  There are other sort of hunters.  Including ones that deal with possessed spirits more than the ones we deal with.  They have their research people and they have one that's a father to two boys - one a hunter, one in college.  He's in Idaho and you want him to help you. He's a former Marine.  He's been fighting the dark for years thanks to them taking out his wife.  And you want to get him today by what is being said from the air ducts.  Like now.  Then call him!" he shouted.

"We can't," the tiny voice said.  "He would never believe us."

"Fine, then get someone to send me and bring us back," Xander ordered.  "Spike, sit, stay, help."  He got up and the demon got him to one who could send him.  Cam had followed but they didn't send him.  Xander landed outside the bar and felt around.  "Great."  He unfolded his cane and got inside.  The bar was very quiet.  "Magic express, guys.  I got sent to talk to someone."  He sniffed and walked to him.  "John Winchester."

"Demon," he sneered.

"Nope.  Former hunter."  He sat down and stared at him.  "They want you at the talk the generals are having about how to handle the various demon menaces."  John choked and spluttered.  Xander stared at him.  "Part of the Sunnydale team is there.  I just made them huff off for their thoughts that I'm tragically unable to do anything.  Perry, I'm going to fuck you up if you touch me," he said suddenly.

"Sorry, Xander.  John, he is a hunter.  The law firm that did the invasion wants to kill him."

Xander nodded.  "A whole hell of a lot."  He looked at John again.  "Also, since I had that one attempted possession a few years back, I sent information around about a son of yours.  Did you get it?"

John sighed.  "I did."

"You're welcome.  He decided I wasn't right for his work."  He gave him a pointed look.  "C'mon, you can help me keep some egos in check."  He stood up with help from that Perry guy.  "Thank you as well.  Wallet?"

"Where are you staying now, Xander?" he asked, handing it back.

"Hawaii."  He grinned.  "Still with Gretchen.  The other house is by Father Philip."  He touched John and the demons took them both back.

Xander stuck his wallet back in his pocket.  "Colonel Mitchell still here?" he asked.

"Calling from outside, Knight."

"Thank you."  Xander shook his hand and walked John out.  "Okay, whisk us away please, Colonel?"

"Sure."  He stared at him.  "The general was not amused."

"I'm not military and I'm not amused that he smells like he was in a playground earlier being real sweaty."

"He has twins.  It wasn't something more sinister."

"That's good.  I like that."  He grinned.  "I've always protected kids."  Cam got them back there.  Someone in the hotel gasped and started to babble.  "John is here for the conference," he called.  "Leave him be."  He walked them into the room.  "General, this is John Winchester.  Buffy, I can smell you.  He's the other sort of hunter Wes told you about that time in high school."

"Pleasure to meet you," she said from behind them, shaking his hand.  "How did you know it was me?"

"Perfume.  Blind people have better senses to compensate."  He sat down.  "Ma'am, can I still bask in your prettiness?"

She swatted him.  "Go ahead, Xander.  Mr. Winchester, I'm Colonel Sam Carter, PhD.  These are Colonel Mitchell, Colonel Sheppard, and General Westfallen.  The vampire there is Spike, he's part of the Sunnydale team."

"I've heard of their team."  He sat down in a free seat away from Spike.  "What sort of problems are going on?"

"Part of it is the demon community is trying to rise up and be noticed for the peaceful parts," Xander said.  "Which I personally don't have a problem with.  The peaceful ones have never had a problem with me."

"There's peaceful ones?"

"The ones we deal with, not the possessing kind," Xander said.  "They're almost always problems."

John nodded.  "They are.  I saw the invasion and if I had been closer I'd have stepped in."  He looked at Buffy.  "So that sort have a peaceful side?"  She smiled and nodded.  "How big of one?"

"Seventy percent of all the other realm and ancient demon offspurts are peaceful.  The rest are vamps and not real peaceful ones."

"Though, two percent of those are actually warrior class demons which are presently negotiating a peace treaty under penalty of someone giving me to them to kill them all," Xander said.  "Someone told me they had offered me as a peacekeeping method.  I pointed out I'd destroy the damn realm first.  They laughed but they agreed it was another good reason to have peace."

"So they wanted to date you too?" Buffy asked.

"No."

"Then why would they use you as a threat?  You're not exactly He-Man, Xander."

"No but I do have my skills and I put them to good use destroying people."  He grinned. "I always have."

Spike nodded.  "Too true.  Many groups started in Sunnydale until whelp there stepped in to nag and pick on one side.  Then suddenly they're fighting, they break up, and they try to move to other groups.  It was like a disease in some ways."  He lit a cigarette and leaned back.  "Whiny princess girl said he did that a few times to the law firm."  Xander grinned at him.  "How many want you more than their bosses?"

"Two that're still living.  It couldn't help Angel but it sure kept them off me sometimes and helped me when they told me there was another move against me.  One was genuinely interested in me.  We dated for four months before her bosses found out.  Then they changed her mind.  The other I was never sure if her hitting on me was her idea or not."

John looked at him.  "Who're you?"

"Xander Harris.  Formerly of the Sunnydale team.  Now I'm in Hawaii."

"I heard about the hunter out there," he admitted quietly.  Xander smirked.  "You're on good terms with the peaceful community?"

"Yes, I am.  They're very amused when every now and then I threaten to destroy everyone if the lawyers for hell don't leave me alone."

"I would be too," Buffy said, scowling at him.

He was clearly ignoring her.  Xander looked at the woman next to him.  "What sort of doctor are you?"

"Physics."

"So you deal with how to get to other realms and things?"

"I do.  I've been looking at how they're accessed."

"There's a group of demons that do travel agency stuff," Buffy told her.  "None near here but there's one in LA I know."

"The next closest to here is Vegas," Xander agreed.  "There is a group of them advertising a special trip to the Hellmouth for some sort of remembrance, Buffy."

"I hadn't heard."

"I got a brochure in case I wanted to go back.  I'm not sure what they're remembering."

"Okay," she decided.  "I'll have someone ask."

"Fifteen years since the mayor went down," Spike told them.  He grinned.  "They're holding a vigil for those who died and stoning an image of Wilkins."

"I may just go to that," Xander decided.

"No you're not coming back to Sunnydale.  It's still too dangerous for you, Xander."

Xander turned his head in her direction.  "Said who?"

"Said me and I'm the slayer."

He snorted.  "Actually, Faith is *the* slayer as the line moves through her dying, Buffy.  You're *a* slayer."  She gasped.  "The *the* part only comes if you die and another gets called.  So said one of the Council weenies I heard on a beach last year."  She swallowed.  "They hate Faith more than you but they'd rather remove you both and then move on from there.  So whoever Willow activated, I'd warn them about that plot too?"

"Yeah, I did," she admitted. "There's another three she activated to help out with the clean up and handle the uprisings."

Xander shook his head.  "You need to get the communities and councils together to teach them to have a peaceful civil rights movement.  The more stress they cause, the more of them that'll be killed.  Especially right now with everyone panicking."

"I get that.  I'm sure they do."

"I think most of them aren't thinking that way," Spike told her.  "But he's right.  I've pointed that out to a few who wanted vampire rights."  Xander snorted, shaking his head.  "They were thinking those who use volunteers and the sort that go to blood banks."

"That I might see.  The ones who attack in the clubs, they'll never have it."  Xander shifted again, crossing his feet.  "If you're going to whisper from the air ducts, just show up for the talk," he ordered.  The demon sighed but came out and pulled a chair in beside Spike.  "Thank you.  It's partially your future as well."

John stared at it.  "Is it peaceful?"

"Yes," Buffy, Xander, and Spike said.

"A lot are seers," Spike told him.

"There's one near me that runs a fantastic pawn shop and special grocery store.  I get my housekeeper all sorts of treats from them."

"He said you're very nice to him," the demon said.  "That you're mostly very reasonable and even when she's done something to piss you off on purpose you're still never that angry with her."

"Gretchen's become like family to me," Xander told him.  "Even if she does occasionally trip over the puppies or messes up my closets on purpose because she's mad at me for dating."

"She's a what?" Buffy asked the demon.

"Half Foret."

"Huh," she said, looking at Xander.  "She cooks good clearly."

"I made steaks last night but yes she does."  He grinned.

"How do you cook?" she asked.

"I chop up things by feel and using my fingers as a guideline.  I cook the normal way you do for the most part but my meat thermometer tells me when things are done."

"Oh.  So they make stuff for blind people to cook for real?"  He nodded.  "I didn't know that."

"Yeah.  And I went with an all matching wardrobe I could probably even do my own laundry.  I hate doing laundry so I'm really glad she does it for me," he offered with a grin.  "I do a lot of things for myself."

"Willow said that you probably had to help doing the simple things like taking a bath."

"No.  I've always showered by myself.  Took me a week to learn how to shave with an electric razor but I do all that myself.  Now and then Gretchen gets to pop a back zit."

"I guess that's good for you then," she decided.  "It sounds like Hawaii is good for you so we don't have to worry about you coming back."

He stared at her.  "Don't push your luck."  She sighed but nodded.  He rolled his eyes.

The demon looked down at her.  "You do know that he has defeated about twelve attacks on his life since one of my kind that moved out there?"

"No, I didn't."

"Shooting at the breathing sounds very handy," Xander said.

The demon shuddered.  "Yes, very handy."  Xander grinned at him.  "In Miami they were panicking and are sorry."

"That's cool.  I told the local community that I wasn't going to harm anything as long as the Council and those lawyers and everyone else that wants to kill me leaves me alone.  Then I'd just dust the bottles."

"We would all appreciate that," Buffy said.  She looked at John.  "Have you heard about Bottles of Ancients?"

"Myths."

"I have eight," Xander said.  "Three got destroyed and one got broken years ago but no blood inserted."

"Good to know.  What are you doing with them?"

"The Watchers Council and Wolfram and Hart want to kill me.  If they keep trying I'm going to open one and bleed into it in their buildings and then kill the demons after they've made a mess."

"Sure," John said, nodding slightly.  Xander grinned.  "Can you...."

"He dates people who like weapons," Buffy complained.  "Someone cute-ish took a bunch of them to help us during the invasion."

"Commander McGarrett," the general said.

"He's a detective now.  He's in charge of a task force for Hawaii State Police," Xander said with a grin.  "The guy that had been helping me with them introduced us because he was being retired.  That one's also the one that introduced me to Jim Ellison and his friend Blair."

"I met them there as well," the general said.  "Blair said to say hello."  Xander grinned. "You do make some very diverse contacts."

"Mostly due to dating them," Buffy said dryly.

"I haven't dated in a while.  They never want more than sex these days.  I'd like someone permanent again, like what I had with Anya only more healthy."

"I talked to her the other day.  She said she knows you're doing good and she's happy about that.  Chewed on Willow for saying you were helpless."

"Willow needs her ass kicked," he said bluntly.  "Especially since she tried to help my parents get custody of me for the law firm.  She's damn lucky I had to get home to protect Gretchen from another attack."

"Then you'd probably be the lizard known as Xander," Buffy shot back.  Xander stood up and moved his pants waistline to show off the marks there.  She moaned.

John looked.  "Most of the protections I know about against bad magic and chaos magic.  I'd want two more, Harris."

"They're on my lower back and right butt cheek."  He sat back down.  "It suited it more with what they want me for."

"That figures," he decided.  "So, General, we have what sort of plans?"

"Right now, we're gathering intel on how everyone does things so we won't be interrupting anything *decent* going on while still keeping the peace.  I know we arrested a few demons for dealing arms recently."

"One was going to off-world things," Spike said.  "They needed it."

"They took it back," the demon told him.  "Along with the rest of the weapons they found stored there.  It's helping against that higher demon who wants to take over."

"Is that the guy with eight arms?" Xander asked.

"Yes.  They keep trying to attack his private areas."

"He leaves that in his wife or girlfriend, whatever you call her.  That's why they take on something that's basically like a guide."

"Interesting.  I will let them know."  He made notes.  "She is protected?"

"Usually.  I would if it was me," Xander told him.

"Still, not that hard to take out a building if we must."

"Make sure she's not pregnant, he can reincarnate through any of his offspring," Buffy said.  "Giles was worried he'd show up in town."

"Earth air would kill him, especially the smog in LA," Spike told her.

"Too impure, too rich?" Sam Carter asked.  "Is that a normal problem?"

"Realm by realm," the demon told her.  "Theirs is more nitrogen rich but very clean.  They have gill-like breathing structures that have clogging filters."

"If it'll help, I'll find a way to create a canister of smog to send at him."

He smiled.  "I'll keep that in mind.  Some others need more pure atmospheres.  The ones the Knight holds might have to choke and gasp for a bit too at all the pollution you've put into the air.  Especially if he releases them on the Council in their building."

"Willow said parts of England are smog central," Buffy agreed.  "She went to visit Giles' estate and his horses."

"We heard," Xander and the demon both said.

"I got sixteen panicked calls telling me 'the witch is going insane' and to take her out if she came near me," Xander finished.  "Two weeks before I had to leave Hawaii for my safety I started to get them again.  I got a few very disappointed ones that I didn't take her out at the courthouse.  Then my phone started to mysteriously not work."  The demon pointed at the door.  "I figured it was since it's clearly a magical virus."

"Did you see him point?" John asked.

"No, the tiny bracelet he's wearing jingles when his arm moves and his aftershave is on his wrist so the smell changes too whenever it comes into the open."

"You're using the damn hyena's senses," Buffy accused.  Xander grinned at her.  "At least you're not attacking more pretty young women?"

"That was a 'join my pack or be shoved out' move, Buffy."

"So I beat her?" she asked dryly.

"To truly beat her, you would've had to kill us both."

"Fine.  As long as she doesn't like me anymore."

"No, she doesn't.  She might respect you."

"Hyena?" the general asked.

"I got possessed by one in tenth grade."  He grinned.  "She's real handy and she's helped me hunt for years when I needed to.  Adding her senses into mine has helped me a lot and helped with my whole situational awareness thing too."

"She keeps you from tripping?" Buffy snorted.

"No, that was an ear thing that should've been fixed when I was five and never was.  That got fixed by some minor surgery about nine and a half months after I got to Hawaii.  My eye doctor referred me on the dojo master's suggestion."

"You went to a dojo?" she asked.

"That's something I would've done so I wasn't so vulnerable too," John Winchester told her.  "He had to find whole new ways to tell an enemy and learn to protect himself."

"But we wanted him to be protected," she told him.

"I'm not the thumb sucking sort, Buffy," Xander told her.  "Beyond that, not real safe if they're breaking in to kill me.  The dojo master realized I was influenced by her skills and helped me learn to recognize where I was leaning on her and what else I could learn from her.  Though she did not like the ex that took me skydiving."

"Any hope with the new medical stuff on getting it back?"  He shook his head.  "Shoot.  I'd guess you probably want it back."

"I got asked if I really wanted it bad enough," Xander told her.  "They offered to change me into a half-demon that had aura sense and sight.  There's been plenty of times I would've liked that because 'sounds pretty' doesn't always count and then the next day I hear 'you dated *that*' from someone I know."

"Some people are shallow," Sam agreed.

"Shallow was Miami.  I couldn't get flirted with in a strip club even with a hundred dollar bill in my hand because I can't see how jiggly her fake parts were."

"That's sad," John said.  "No one to watch your back?"  Xander shook his head.   "If you go back that way, I'll see if Dean will give me the name of the club he liked a lot for easy women."  Xander grinned at him.  "You're usually in Hawaii?"

"I have a house in Boston, near Father Philip.  Some of Jim and Mack's friends introduced me to some of their contacts who dealt with demons and they introduced me to Father Philip."

"Irish guy?" John asked.  He looked a bit confused.  "Language expert?"

"Yeah.  Demons hate him more than me."

"I did not know that."

"He's retired," Xander said with a smile.  "Something about another ancient group, as old as the Council.  Deal with demons like your type of hunter does?"

"Legacy," he growled.

"I got introduced to some in San Fran.  Philip retired."

"I'll go to him for holy water then," John decided.  "Would he mind?"

"He knows that other hunters might hear because I talked to him for years about my anger issues.  He's a great guy, I adore Philip like a brother.  The last time we talked about demon things one had just tried to take him over and he was swearing at it.  I drove it off and he did an exorcism of the thing that it was hiding in.  The whole church shook."

"He's an anointed one," John said.

"No clue.  He's retired."

"Does he guard a special artifact or book?"

"No.  He's the guy that the ones needing the real exorcists called.  He told me this absolutely bitching story about a guy who had a Hand of Glory in a school he was working in."

"I know his type.  I know another of the Carnation Order."

Xander grinned.  "He does like white carnations but then he told me he retired shortly afterward."

"Good.  Then I'd definitely like to get to know him.  Even just as a source of holy water and maybe some translations that need it."

"He's got three spirits up there that he's been fussing at for months," Xander said.  "They won't stay gone when he sends them off."

"I can be in Boston in a few days after I get my truck."  Xander grinned.  "Thanks."

"Not a problem.  Philip could use more *friends*."

"Got it."  He patted the table.

"There's a group beyond the Council?" the general sighed.

"That one's been around forever but it handles the bigger, possessing demons that are almost always problems," Xander said.  "They're about as old.  They don't have specific warriors.  They have normal people doing the job, some with gifts like Sight and things."

"Most of the hunters that know about the demon community and those sort," the demon told him, "consider it to be two worlds.  A higher and a lower.  The higher, the possessing sort, are the ones that try world take over bids and possess people to enact bad ideas.  They're minions of Hell.  Us lesser ones are considered a slight problem for the ones that cause problems," he said with a point at Spike.  "But most of us are pretty well hidden so humans can ignore us."

"Humans ignore anything strange," Xander told the general.  "'Look at that guy's skin condition, he's smurf blue' sort of ignoring it.  Sunnydale has a large case of that."

"Yes it does," Buffy agreed.  "It's what lets the vampy vamps eat so many of them."

"Did Riley ever tell you that he broke into my house to talk to me?" Xander asked her.

"Is that why he got arrested?"

"Yeah.  Jim and Blair got him for me."  He grinned.  "He had gassed Gretchen.  I nearly killed his ass for that but Jim busted in and put him down for being a Ranger-wannabe and disgracing the uniform he used to wear."

"Is he single?" Buffy asked.

"Not real sure," he admitted.  "Try to date a normal officer."  She nodded she could do that.  "Did Sunnydale ever rehire the department?"

"No.  We have two officers now, who still do nothing.  Cousins of former officers so they're locals.  One tried to tell me the other day I looked like a pro.  He was going to arrest me on it and then rape me horrible from what he told Willow when she had him about ten feet in the air and was going to drop him onto the ground really hard."

"Well, maybe someone will come along and sacrifice them too," Xander said.

Spike snorted.  "Don't tempt 'em.  One's recently been turned."

The general whimpered.  "Is it always like that there?"  The Sunnydale team nodded.  "Are other places that bad?"

"Angel's team handles anything breaking the quiet in LA," Buffy said with a shrug.  "I've only been those two places.  Kendra was raised in Jamaica.  She snuck onto a plane to get to Sunnydale.  She might've known.  Unfortunately Dru killed her back in our high school times.  She was Council raised and hated Angel."

"Duh," Xander quipped.

"You hush."

"Hey, I was right.  You didn't listen."

"Whatever."

Xander sniffed then turned his head toward Spike, who snorted and lit another cigarette.

"Local rules say no smoking inside any building," Carter said, snatching it and putting it out.  "It's bad for the rest of us who have to breathe."

Xander snickered.  "When he first joined the team, Willow nagged him about his smoking.  Giles tied him up in his tub and I taped him in my recliner when I had custody of him."

"Still owe you one, nummy," Spike shot back with an evil smirk.

"Come to Hawaii and tell me that, Spike."

"Too bloody sunny for my tastes.  Maybe next time you're in Boston."

"Sure, I'll buy you a beer."  Spike shook his head with a sigh.

Buffy moaned.  "Please don't date Spike."

"I'd never date Spike, Buffy.  I like mine *warm*."

"I'm going to tell Willow on you," she shot back.

"I asked Blair's mother Naomi to talk to her about the earth mother."  He grinned.  "Naomi's in town, she was heading to Cascade and stopped over to talk to a friend at the yoga center in town."

"Sandburg?" the general asked.  Xander grinned and nodded.  The general shuddered.  "She treated me like a naughty toddler more than once when she was protesting near my base."

"Her son works with Jim Ellison."

The general shuddered again, walking out to call someone.  He didn't much like Rosenburg or Ms. Sandburg.  So maybe they were a mutual cure to the other.  He found the number for the yoga center and called.

Xander looked at John.  "The hunters network, how many?  Relatively so we can see if they're spread about and if LA needs some clean up help."

"There's a few who went to help there," John said.  "A lot of us are in the midwest but a lot of us travel all over."

"Killer.  I know there's only been one in Hawaii since I moved in.  Does Perry still whine in his sleep?"

"Yup.  He fell asleep on a table and had puppy dreams," John said with a smirk for the kid.  "Any areas you've heard we need covered?"

"Here.  Because whatever project is here draws things that are waiting for a chance," the demon told him.  The soldiers all stared at him.  "Truth, people.  However you opened up that Ancient device draws them.  They think it's their signal from the Old Ones to move up.  You have a good twenty bad ones in town, even with a week of Buffy hunting."

Buffy nodded.  "Huge group of vamps I've been weeding down with Spike's help.  One group is hiding by the academy and I can't get on there to kill them."  She looked at Carter.  "One of the demons said that you were some sort of super brain and had something that could zap them?"

"A zat would," Xander agreed.  "I tried it on one I captured trying to break into a daycare to eat the kids.  I had heard and was lurking.  The local PD there was not amused when they caught me but they caught sight of the vamp and I shot it.  Two zaps and they're dust."

Buffy nodded.  "Can I bum one?" she asked Carter.

"We're Air Force ourselves," John said.  "We can escort you onto the academy grounds and help you.  Cam and I are both Special Forces trained and Carter was on a tactical team at one point."

Buffy beamed.  "Thank you."

"We'd want to stop that," Sam agreed.  "Any idea what is it is specifically that summons that sort?"

"If the Old Ones who bark show up, the demons know they'll take over humanity and the demons can beat them," he said.

"We defeated them for the most part," Sam said with a smile.  "They're not the current threat."

"No, the Oral Roberts-like ones I've been told about are bad," Xander said.  "The demons are very certain they can overrun them because there's a few who can eat ascended, whatever they are.  One was drunkenly making plans in Miami about who to call and when if they got down here.  Again, a let them weaken humanity for us since they'd take out all the smart ones that could stop them first, and then they'd take over from them."

"We can work on a plan against that," Cam said.  "Any idea when?"

"If they get down here, you're going to see it start," Buffy said.  "I heard one making the same sort of plans at our demon bar."

Spike nodded.  "Anything big, the demons would let take out humanity and then take over."

"The wraith they can't," John said.

"The wraith probably won't eat demons," Sam told him.  "They don't eat animals or anything that's too non-human."

"Which would save most demons outside vampires," Buffy said.

"Three species," Spike told her.  "Yeah, wraith are known about.  Bloody wankers are dumb as minions at times.  A lot of demons would gladly help you take them out but there'd be human casualties at the same time.  Mostly the smart ones that help protect humanity."  He looked at John and sniffed.  "If you bring her back here, you're going to have problems."

"Good to know.  We'll take that into account for our future disaster plans."

Buffy smiled.  "As long as I don't have to help.  I have enough with the bad demons trying things.  Especially in the spring."

"This spring I'm going to ask someone to teach me to surf and scuba," Xander quipped with a grin.  "To handle the mermaids that are off Hawaii who think I'm a cousin."

"Are they eating people?" Buffy asked.  "I'll take a vacation to your beaches to hunt them."

"They get about a surfer a year," he admitted.  "They migrate from Hawaii to some other, more protected island to the south.  They have a mystical chamber they visit every year under Oahu in an underwater cave.  They fast on the way in and take a surfer on the way out.  Hawaiian tradition states that no one fishes or surfs that week.  The locals who aren't native don't understand why but it's pretty widely adopted by everyone but tourists."

"Huh," Buffy said.  "I guess that makes sense.  I'm guessing slayers who were in Africa and Asia have a lot of the same when demons come near the natives that you see on National Geographic."  Xander nodded.  "Interesting."

"Mermen exist?" John asked.

"They look like _Swamp Thing_," Xander said.  "I got some mermaid taint issued to me when I went undercover on the swim team to find out why they were disappearing and turning up as black, slimy monsters."

"Your whole town needs sank," John Sheppard complained.  "Is that normal?"  Buffy nodded, so did Xander.  "Sam, can we blow up their town?"

"Yup.  Not that hard to do.  The general wanted plans on how to do that."

"Give us enough time to tell the demon bar so the harmless ones can leave," Buffy said.  "Angel will moan about being overloaded but he'll handle it."

"Where's the other hellmouths?" Xander asked her.

"I don't know.  There's got to be at least one more," she agreed, pulling out her phone to call Giles.  "It's me.  Xander just asked how many other hellmouths there are.  No, he's good.  He can even cook for himself, Giles.  No, he still can't see.  We all apparently underestimated how much blind people could do.  Including shoot Council people.  By the way, he said they're going to make a potion to kill all the activated slayers within six months."  He complained but gave her information she needed.  "He heard they need that root thingy, Xander."

"They got it last week," the demon told her.  "They're moving in on the potion maker in South Africa to get him free of the prison."

She repeated that and got another note to pass on.  "There's other hunters, like the ones Wesley told us about way back when.  They handle the possessing sort of demons instead of like I do.  Is there anything I should pass on to them?"  She made a note and handed it to John.  "Thanks, Giles."  She hung up.  "He said he hopes you're all right."

"I'm usually fine."

John nodded, sending that message to someone.  "I'm telling someone who knows which hunter would be out that way, Buffy."

"Thank you."  She smiled.  "Are there any cute, young hunters?"

"I have two sons but one wanted a normal life," he admitted, looking at her.  "I can introduce you to the other one."

"I wanted to be normal more than once," she sighed.  "Then I got pulled back in by moving to Sunnydale or having the cheerleading squad attacked.  Once it was an old boyfriend who wanted to be turned so he used me as a prize."

"Beer," Xander quipped.

"Shut up, Xander.  I can still kick your butt."

"I can shoot you before you move," he assured her.  "You can have a few weeks of limping and going 'ow, he was really mean to me'."

"No thanks.  That's why I don't like guns.  They might get used on me."  He smirked.

John shook his head.  "My sort of hunter finds them very handy.  What sort of weapons do you use?"

"Crossbows, swords, Xander had an axe he used to use."

"It's still well used," the demon complained, glaring at Xander.

"I told him not to fuck with me or I'd make him bait chunks.  He was on my back lawn taunting me."

"Jesus, you're all insane," John Sheppard said, shaking his head quickly.  "Swords?"

"Yup, very handy to behead," Buffy said with a smile.  "Lots of things take beheading."

"We use higher powered shotguns to blow them off," John told him.  "We have a variety of bullets we use."

"I mostly stake," Buffy told them.  "A lot because a lot of what I handle are a specific breed of vampy vamp and they take staking or beheading.  It's easier to hide a stake in a cute top and skirt combo."

"I'd never let a daughter that was hunting wear a skirt," John said.

"We have patrols," Xander said with a grin.  "Every single night most of the year."

"I'd still never let a daughter who was hunting wear a skirt," John said, looking at her.  "Don't you worry about it being easier to be ripped off you?  Or even flashing someone?"

"There's an appreciation society," Spike said smugly.  She reached over to hit him on the arm.

"They started back when she started to wear fashionable clothes on patrol," Xander said dryly.  "They used to stalk her around to see if they could catch a flash of thong.  They used to have a whole bulletin board of pictures but Angelus made them burn it and tried to kill most of them.  Andrew probably has copies though since some were human."

Buffy blushed.  "I never knew that."

"Yup.  Angel used to growl to scare them off a lot."

"Oh," she said in a tiny voice.  "That's good to know."

"Those backless shirts you used to wear?  *Real* popular with them too."

"They were taking a survey on which type of heels they liked you in best," Spike said.  "They decided the wedge ones because they were higher and you could do the fancy kicks in them."

"Yeah, I think I need to change my look then," she decided.

"Might not help," the demon assured her.  "The day you went out in the bodysuit and jeans nearly became a pinup look on the bulletin boards online.  They really liked the nice bra that barely peeked out and showed you off very well."

"It's nice to know that they don't think I'm tragically old," she said.  She shook her head quickly.  "I'm definitely too old for those backless shirts.  Xander, did your wardrobe mature finally?"

"Not really.  Gretchen helps me make sure I have two groups that match within that group."

"Aww, did she put little animals on the hangers?"

"Blue and red Braille markers.  Though I do still look just as hot in a speedo."  He smirked.

"You're still very fit but I don't know too many men that wear them," John Winchester said, shaking his head.

"It's one way to get them to look past the cane and the glasses.  Or else they see that and want to pity me and maybe pity sleep with me.  One asked me if I was a virgin because I was blind."

"Did you lie?" Buffy asked.

"She was eighteen and it gave her status points."  He grinned.  "I told her I had gotten to oral sex before but no further."

Sam Carter shook her head.  "Most guys would."

"Yup," Cam and John said.

"We're all insane," Sheppard decided.

"It's where we're still young enough to party, old enough to realize how bad it is for us, and unwise enough to not care," Xander told him.  "The club I used to go to loved my dog when I brought her in.  The bouncers were a bit freaked out at first but all the girls cooed at her.  It drew in a lot more girls because they told them a cute blind guy with a dog was in to listen to the music and smell the sweat.  A few even bought her bottles of water and treats from the bar."

"I've heard of guys using dogs to pick up women in a park but not in a bar," Sam Carter said.  Someone knocked then walked in.  "Rodney.  Xander Harris, Buffy Summers, John Winchester, Spike, and I didn't catch your name," she offered to the demon.

"It's not pronounceable by your kind anyway," he said with a smile.  "Welcome, Loud One Who Makes Ancient Things Not Break As Fast."  John burst out cackling at that title.

"That's better than mine," Xander said.

"Or mine," Buffy agreed.  "Does John have one?"  She pointed at John Winchester since there were two.

"We just consider him scary," the demon assured her.

"Good," John agreed.  "Dean or Sam have one?"

The demon cleared his throat.  "Perhaps it would be good if you sent your younger son to Hawaii for guarding duties?  That way the demon that haunts you will not end up haunting him?  Because the Great Plan is worse than the one Harris has for humanity if he loses his temper on those who want him again."

"I sent him what I got from the demon that tried to possess me a few years back," Xander told him.

"Good!"

"Why?" Buffy complained.

"He wanted to see if I was useful for his purposes since I wasn't under the cloud of Sunnydale energy that kept his kind off me.  Then Blair taught me how to shield with his spirit guide."

"We believe in such things?" Rodney demanded.

"I met his.  Wolf was really nice about some things.  Blair's a shaman."

"Dirt," Buffy complained quietly.  Xander grinned at her.  "So anyway, their plan?"

"Final apocalypse," the demon said.

"Having Sam be the host body of a higher demon to open a hellgate," Xander said.  "Final apocalypse when?"

"That would send his brother to hell somehow, and once there they'd use him to break seals," the demon told him.

"No bloody way," Spike growled.

Xander shrugged.  "If he's nice and not of the pitying the Xander sort we can hang out if he's cool.  I don't mind new friends."

"He's at Stanford," John said quietly.

"Hawaii has a number of great schools," Xander said with a grin.  "Very good ones that have later degrees and beaches plus pretty things to stare at."

John pulled out his phone to call someone.  "Son, me.  Go get your brother from Stanford no matter what.  The demon wants him too."  He listened.  "I don't care, Dean.  This is more important."

Xander sighed, looking at the demon's place.  "Can you kidnap him?"

"He's around a protected being.  We think the demon after that family is protecting her to make sure she's around for his plans."

"Buffy, have Willow steal him."

She called her.  "It's me.  We just found out a hunter's son is being stalked by a higher, possessing sort of demon to use him to start an apocalypse and destroy his family.  Stanford.  Please?  Thanks.  I'm sure whoever that is would understand."

"If that's Naomi, yes she will.  She knows about demons.  She's very much the vegan hippie chick I once called her."

"Who protests a lot," John Winchester muttered.  Xander grinned and nodded.

Buffy hung up.  "Naomi agreed it was a good reason and then they'd go back to talking."  She stared at Xander.  "That was mean."

"She showed up in Miami twice to tell me I was helpless.  I was going to ask her to talk to both of you."

"Oooh," she said with a wince and a hiss.  "Ow.  A Mom talk."

"And then some.  She quit protesting nuclear power plants that could leak and cause birth defects to talk to Willow."  Willow appeared with the young guy then stomped off to go correct that *woman* about how she wasn't evil.

"Son," John said, standing up to look at him.

"You had me taken from right before a test?  I thought you hated witches, Dad."

"I do.  The demon is after *you*," he said quietly, staring at him.

"One possessed me a few years ago," Xander said.  "I passed on the information that it was going to do a replay, then wear you down until you were his host so he could open a hellgate."

Sam looked at him.  "Okay.  Who're you?"

"Xander Harris.  Formerly of the Sunnydale team."

"I'm Buffy, the slayer Buffy," she said with a smile and wave.  "That was Willow that stole you.  She's my witch for the patrol stuff and apocalypses."

John looked at him.  "We'll get you a makeup but if he's coming for you...."

"He is," the tiny demon said.  "Then it'd come down to that one using you to send your brother to hell so he could break seals.  Hence a *final* apocalypse."

Sam shuddered.  "Okay."  He stared at his father.  "I know you hate me having a normal life."

"This isn't about that.  We can argue about that later, son.  The demon knows about your girlfriend.  He's protecting her until he's ready."

"When was that going to be?" Sam asked quietly.

"He can only open the gate in the cemetery every so often," Xander said.  "I'm thinking it's within a few years maybe?"

"Damn it," he muttered.  "I love Jess."

"As Naomi says, detach with love and make it long distance," Xander offered.  "I live in Hawaii and we're pretty protected.  The whole islands have protections against most of the possessing sorts thanks to a sacrifice back about three hundred years ago or so."

"It's a good school," Sam agreed.  "I was thinking law school though.  Stanford would get me in faster.  Plus I'm full ride."

"I'm proud," John said quietly.  Sam nodded, slumping some while he thought.  "We have a choice here and we can head it off.  If he's gotten this time then Jess is safe.  So are you.  Then you can go have your normal life and all that.  If not, he's gunning for you."

"Any idea why he wants your family?" Xander asked.  They both stared at him.  "If he's doing a redo of what he did before, why?  Why you guys specifically?  Is there something in your bloodline?  Is there a gift in the family?  Something that could help him?"

"I've been trying to figure that out," John admitted.  "I have no idea."  He looked at the demon.  "Any idea?"

"Well, I can tell you that the young one there smells like he got infected or tainted," Spike said.  "Same as whelp here does from Sunnydale's mermaids, the possessions, and other things."

"So whatever he did before he burned my wife tainted you somehow," John said, looking at his son.

"Why your family?" Xander asked.  "That's a hell of a lot of work to possess someone, have them sneak in, kill your wife in a ritual manner without a ritual, and infect your son."

"I have no idea," John said firmly.

"Okay."  He looked at the demon and Spike's spots.

"You might ask a vengeance one," Spike offered.

"Anya!" Xander yelled.  She appeared with a squeal and hugged him.  He grinned and hugged her back.  "Dinner later?"

"I'll be in Russia."  She looked and blanched.  "Oh, shit, it's you."

"We're trying to figure out why him," Xander told her.

"There's a lot of 'into every generation one is born' things beyond the slayer one," she said, staring at the son.  "Including ones with gifts from bloodlines past, like sight, and maybe some healing or something?"  Sam growled.  She grinned.  "Also," she said, looking at John.  "You were returned."  John stiffened.  "Vengeance demons can always tell when someone's returned from the dead."  She kissed Xander.  "I'll pop around when I can."  She disappeared.  She had to report that Xander had stepped into the Winchester apocalypse plans.

"Being dead isn't fun," Buffy said.  "I've been there and Xander brought me back with CPR."

"I've never needed CPR," John said.  "She was who?"

"Anyanka," Xander and Buffy said together.

"My ex," Xander admitted.  "She was humaned for a while."

"Seer," Sam said.  "That would be a good reason to come after me."  John nodded at that, looking down.  "If it's that far back, how would it come active in me?"

"Demon blood can do that," Spike said.  "It did to Dru's when Angelus turned her.  It's what drove her batty."

Buffy nodded.  "Giles said that some species of demons can give you their essence.  I went telepathic after some got some blood on me."

"So essence of the demon to awaken gifts."

"Why would he want a seer to lead a demon army?" Xander demanded of Spike.  "That makes no damn sense."

"He only needs a minion to open a hell gate, whelp.  Not a body.  Even if he's the possessing sort, opening it gives him the power and then he'd probably take over a  stronger warrior to lead.  Not a problem for him to kill a body by moving on."

"Actually, both of my boys know how to hunt," John admitted, looking at his son.  "I tried to send Dean but he's on a critical hunt.  The demon was going after kids," he said quietly.

"That's fine," he said, pulling out his phone to call his teacher.  "It's Sam Winchester, sir.  I just got summoned by my father, who I'm at odds with, about my future.  No, I'm not in California right now.  He had me snatched.  Where are we?"

"Denver," John said.

"Colorado Springs," Cam corrected.  He took the phone to talk to him.  "Sir, Colonel Cameron Mitchell, US Air Force.  I'm here with your student.  His father did have him snatched because he heard someone was going to attack him.  No, not for money.  His father heard something from the invasion wanted him to kill as a sacrifice.  That's what I'm doing actually.  His father brought him to where I am to protect him.  He'll be back in a few days, once we can get that threat.  Yes, sir.  He knew he had a test.  He complained about that first thing.  Thank you, sir."  He hung up.  "You can have a makeup as long as you get there within a week, Sam."

"Thank you."  He looked confused.  "Why are we meeting?"

"We're figuring out how to integrate the soldiers that got told to hunt the bad demons trying things into the hunters and the others that do the work," Xander quipped.  "I'm a former hunter.  Buffy and Spike are from the Sunnydale team.  The little guy there is being helpful and putting in input for the peaceful community.  These nice others were at the invasion."

Sam nodded.  "Okay.  I left all that for a normal life."

"I tried that," Buffy sighed.  "Didn't work at all.  I'm the slayer," she said at his odd look.

"Oh.  I've read about you."  She smiled.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem.  I used to rely on Xander for moral support and jokes, plus sometimes ideas that worked even if I thought they were stupid."

"And artillery," Xander quipped.  "Or bombs."

"And them," she agreed with a smile for Sam.

"I still want to sink your town," Sam Carter told her.

"Cool!  Let me pack first?"

"Gladly."

Sam shook his head.  "That's insane."

"There's a hellmouth under the old high school," Xander told him.

"New high school too," Buffy quipped, waving a hand in the air.  "They put it right back on top of it."  Sam and John both shuddered.  "We've kept the death rate down under twenty percent.  I'm considering that mostly a win."

"I'm sending Dean to help you, Buffy.  That needs a few extra hunters to help thin the pack of vampires causing problems."  He glanced at Spike.  "He'll tell all his friends in the hunting community about what the town needs and that you're open for dating a nice boy."

"Thank you."  She got up and hugged him.  "Can he send someone nice toward Xander?"

"I'm not sure if he knows anyone in Hawaii or not."  Sam pulled a chair from the stack in the corner over to the table so he could sit by his father.

"Okay, what do we most need to help integrate the people being told to handle things?" Cam asked.

"Training," Xander and Buffy said.

"Staking's not like stabbing," Xander said.  "Very small target, hard to hit, vamps are stronger and faster."

"Giles hates this idea but he has a lot of books full of research and prophecies that you guys probably need to bum for at least a copying time," Buffy agreed.

"Also, hunters *hunt*," John put in.  "We research what's going on in a given situation, what's doing it, and then act reasonably.  For spirits causing problems that's digging up a grave to salt and burn it.  For possessed people that's an exorcism, which can kill the host if you're not careful.  For others it's defeating a beast."

"For us once it was a hell goddess," Buffy said.  "Thanks for those weapons, Xander."

"Welcome."

"So higher and lower weapons.  Research skills.  Self-defense or hand-to-hand training," John Sheppard said.  They nodded.  "Anything else?"

"A real good tolerance for the weird, insane, and things that make you want to drink," Xander said.  "The two Marines Buffy and Willow handed me to for protection when I was newly blind got *real* drunk when they looked up my background.  Their whole Special Forces group of friends all got real drunk with them when they heard."  He shifted.  "I had to guide Jim Ellison on a hunt when something was attacking officers in Cascade.  He said it was a lot like what he was taught as a Ranger for team stalking a target to take it out.  Plus research."

"We have that," Cam agreed.  "We're all real used to strange things too."  Sam Carter nodded at that.   "Are small teams reasonable or should it be a bigger group?"

"Sometimes you need one, sometimes you need an army," John said.  Buffy nodded quickly.  "I'm told their team has about four or five people all told."

"Me, my watcher, Spike, and a few part-timers like Willow," Buffy agreed.  "Xander was one of my backups.  Guys like John and his sons go out singly usually or maybe a couple if they're married?"  John nodded.

"So a small team would be reasonable, but they'd need to be able to act independently of the team," John Sheppard said.

"That would be for the best," Xander agreed.  "Some of it's real boring.  Patrols are still patrols.  You get the vamps as they come up if you're lucky and maybe a few more while you're out.  Those are more exciting than the guys coming up that you stake as soon as they make it out of the dirt."

"Club hunting is good but dangerous," Buffy said.  "Usually then you're a small group and there's a lot more of them than you.  I usually get about five or six vamps a night when I hunt in the club in Sunnydale or when I'm in LA doing one for Angel.  It can also lighten my mood when I get my tease on."

"Hunting isn't life affirming by any means," Xander agreed.  "The morning after the apocalypse when you're watching the sun comes up can be.  That's usually the moment I realize 'I did okay, I survived' and then I get up and snoopy dance."

"You can snoopy dance?" Sam asked with a grin.

"I can and I'm excellent at it," he said with a grin back.

"After the bad hunts it's usually a few beers and watching the sun come up when I'm that tired and want to retire," John Winchester agreed.  "I take a few days and then something comes to my attention that needs to be handled."

"You're all insane," Sam Carter assured them.  But she was smiling.  "Does it help if you have backup?"

"There's times a single person can do it when a team can't," Xander pointed out.  "There's times when all the Marines might be nice but a single person has to do it.  Those moments you start your mental 'oh shit, why did I start doing this' mantra and do it anyway.  Even if it means you die."  The other hunters nodded.  So did John Sheppard.

"I've had a few of those happen in my career," John Sheppard admitted quietly.  "Then I usually wanted beer or liquor that wasn't available."

"Anytime you do those things, we *all* want liquor," Rodney assured him.  He sat down beside Carter.  "The General?"

"Isn't used to the scooby meeting style so he went to talk to someone," Buffy said.  "We were squabbling like family because Xander's still real disappointed with us."  Xander nodded.  "And he probably hates us enough to have us eaten."

"There's days," Xander admitted.  "Others I'd stick with the hell beaten out of you both option.  Because it would've been real nice to have *support* when I was having to learn how to do everything again."

"I guess," she sighed.  "I still say it's too dangerous."  Xander pointed at the demon.

"Don't bring me into this argument please.  I can see both sides but the Knight has a disturbing habit of shooting people who attack him."

"He'd need wooden bullets in Sunnydale."

"I know three people who make them and wooden ball bearing filled shotgun shells," John Winchester told her.

"I don't like guns," she told him.  "They can be taken from you and used on you a lot easier than a sword is."

"She's never liked guns," Xander told them.

"I can see that point, but sometimes it's safer if you're farther away when you kill things," Sam told her.

She nodded.  "It might be nice but then things can go whoosh on vamps.  Xander used to pickpocket them while he staked.  Spike does now."

Spike nodded.  "It's come in handy.  Gets me money for smokes and blood too."

"It used to be our pizza fund for research times," Xander agreed.  "Chinese was too expensive so Giles popped for some of that."

"You're all crazy," Rodney assured them.

"Yeah but you don't go into hunting for the mental health benefits.  You go in because you need to fix something that happened or get something back for screwing you up," Sam Winchester said.  "You get into hunting because there's a little voice inside your head that says 'it won't happen again' and you listen to it."

His father patted him on the back.  "I know yours was never as strong as mine or Dean's."

Sam looked at him.  "I don't even remember Mom," he said quietly.  "For you it's a crusade that's more important that we were, Dad.  I never got that.  I need to do what makes me happy and makes sense to my little mental voices.  Including helping people as a lawyer."

"I get that now.  It took me a while.  Dean may still not understand."

"Dean's always been your mini me."

John smiled.  "You both make me proud in your own ways."  Sam grinned and relaxed again.  "You still can't really go back until we're sure the demon can't get her this semester."

"I can transfer for a year, study abroad or something."

"Do not go to Europe," Xander warned.  "The Council is heavier over there and they think all you guys are playing in their field.  They'd consider you an easy target because you were alone."

Buffy nodded.  "They've taken out a few different people who stepped into the supernatural community for some reason."

"They think it's their playground and their ordained jobs," Xander told her.  "They never got taught to share and play well with others.  The Council needs to go.  Even if one of the other more ancient groups takes over all the slayers."

"They have their good points."

"Tell that to how Kendra was raised," he said.  "Or you with what they did to you on your eighteenth, and how they're behind the tumor your mother had."  She stiffened.  "Yeah, it was on the underground.  I sent you a letter?"  She shook her head.  "Huh.  Them or someone else?" he asked Spike.

"Red.  She didn't want to worry her about anything else.  She decided you were whining about being in paradise in San Diego."

"I was in Hawaii for over a year by then," he said.

"We both thought you were still in San Diego until a few years ago," Buffy said dryly.

"That's your fault."

"Yes it was.  I'm mature enough to admit to that mistake."  Xander got up and threw a knife at the door, making something scream.  "How in the hells, Xander?  I barely got that on my slayer spidey senses."

"It stinks.  It stinks more now but it's dead."  He sat down and let John Winchester handle it.  "I found out if I aim for the breathing I hear I usually hit about chest height.  With a gun I usually aim about knee or hip height."

Sam Carter stared at him.  "You trained yourself to handle things very well."  Xander beamed at her.

Sam Winchester looked at him, noticing the cane and dark glasses indoors.  "How long have you been blind?"

"Just over ten and a half years thanks to a demon with acidic sweat."

"I still hear you screaming when I'm having nightmares," Buffy said quietly.

Xander looked in her direction.  "So do I."

She relaxed again.  "Well, that's a harmful demon.  A demon assassin.  So not good news.  I wonder who it was after."

"It has papers and a picture of..." John said, opening it.  "Him."  He pointed at Rodney.  John Sheppard took them to look at.  "He's on your project?"

"Yeah, he's my head geek."  He handed them down to Rodney.  "Looks like they're worried that you'll keep things going."

"Of course I am.  I'd hate for our base to sink."  He read it over, grimacing.  "Fairly low price.  The Russians had double that on my head."  He folded them up and put them in front of him.

"If it'll make you feel better, I'll give you a hug," Xander said.  "That way you don't have to out-macho the wobbly feelings."

Rodney stared at him.  "I'll consider that offer later.  I never hug in public.  Others might want one of their own."

Xander grinned.  "Sure.  I'm here."  His phone beeped.  "Whoo-hoo!  Someone ended the curse on my phone!"  He opened it to listen to the audio message.  "Or not."  He sighed and looked at Buffy.  "Write this number."  He repeated it.  "A text saying that my financial guy is possessed or something?  And to please ask Kono to ask her scary girlfriend, she'll know which one, to fix that for me?"  She nodded, doing that.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."  She got back an answer.  "They said they are."

"They're not."  He pushed his phone to where she was sitting.

She listened.  "Oh, that fuckhead," she muttered.  "Excuse my Greek.  I don't usually swear in English anymore.  Giles got upset with the last one."  She wrote them another message and then another one.  "Xander, do you want to fix the tragedy of the hotel trying to have you arrested?"

"Why are they trying to arrest me?"

"No clue.  You just got a message saying that the hotel was calling the cops on you."  She looked up.  "No clue why."  She got up and went to find the general.  "We've pretty well worked out what the hunters in the soldiers will need," she said, showing him the message.

"No idea," he admitted.  He went to interrupt them.

Xander came out to go to the business room and came back with a fax once he had signed one.  He heard the huffy person and held it up.  "Read that to me please?"  The paper was snatched and the man gasped, babbling at him.  Xander stared at him.  "Thank you.  That's what I thought it said."  He took it back and walked off.  "Willow, the people I know are *really* unimpressed with you hacking me again," he said when he walked past a room that smelled like Naomi Sandburg to him.

"Excuse me?" Naomi said.  She came out.  Xander hissed in her ear.  "Heck no."  She went in there to have a better talk with the young lady.  And to paddle her like her mother should have.  She didn't believe in violence but this one could screw up everyone.  She might even destroy all the Mother's works.

Xander shut the meeting room door on the wailing.  He sniffed.  "Sorry, we must be next door."  He walked out and went over there.  "Buffy, Council's next door," he said as he shut the door.  He locked it.  "It smelled like cigarettes and not the expensive ones.  Plus beer, not cognac."

"Crap, a bag and tag team," she complained.  She checked her stakes.  Spike checked for his metal ones.  Xander and the Winchesters checked their weapons.  She looked.  "Sam, they won't want to kill you yet.  Get behind one of the soldiery sorts?"  He nodded, handing over his knife.  She grinned.  "Thanks, I couldn't hide one in my cleavage today."  The door got kicked in and she threw the knife at the person who came in holding a gun.  Xander and John Winchester aimed to wound.  The other soldiers and Rodney dealt with the rest.

The general came jogging back.  "Who're they?"

"Council," Xander said.  "John?"

"Yup?" Sheppard asked.

"Other one.  Would you like it if Sam was in charge of the Council?  That way it'd make sense and he could do the research stuff?  He can finish his law degree in England or wherever?"

Buffy tipped her head to look around John Winchester at him.  "Is that a mean idea or a serious one?"

"Both.  I'm pretty sure Sam knows what hunters need.  I'm pretty sure he'd never hurt the girls.  I'm also pretty sure he'd love all the research stuff.  The watchers would be remade and actually *work*.  I could probably even ask some friends to see if another group could help them reform."  One of the Council people moaned at that.  He looked around.  "Winchester, is your phone warded?  I've still got that curse against phones."

"No need," D'Hoffryn said as he appeared.

Buffy stopped John Winchester from firing.  "He's the head vengeance demon.  We've seen him before."

"They're wish granters," Sam Winchester said.

"I am and that's a very good idea, Harris.  That's actually a wonderful idea.  It would stop them from summoning the First Evil to take out Summers."  Buffy moaned and kicked the nearest body.  "It would also allow them to reform under the Light, plus stop the Winchester apocalypse plans."

"They named it?" John demanded.

"Quite."  He smirked.  "It's not even demons who want the final apocalypse."

"Philip said angels had to possess people too unless they were fallen," Xander said.

"Yes, they do.  Father Philip is one we like to leave alone.  We have a non-bothering contract with him.  We don't go near him and he doesn't holy us to death.  He's the only one I've seen kill a higher level, fallen angel level demon by exorcizing it too hard."

"He told me about that," Xander said with a grin.  "But that would work?"

"It would stop bad things on both sides."  He looked at Winchester.  "You can give up your bright future as a lawyer for people who may or may not be guilty and a life of alcoholism when you're older because one was guilty and you helped get a mass murderer off so he could do it again."

Sam considered it then nodded.  "If I must to protect people, I can do it there and finish my law degree to help the slayers and hunters.  I planned on helping them anyway."

"Good!"  He clapped his hands and an older man appeared, one hand going to his gun.  "Easy," he ordered.  "I come bearing a plan to help stop the light from a huge mistake and stop at least six dark plans, Precept Rayne."

"Which one are you?" he demanded too calmly.  His accent was pretty strong because he was pissed off.

"I'm D'Hoffryn, Lord of the Vengeance demons.  The Council of Watchers has caused their last apocalypse attempt.  It is so mandated."  Derek nodded once at that.  "A plan was issued to stop the light and dark's plans for final apocalypses using a certain family by naming one of them over the Council."

"I'm Sam Winchester," he said with a slight wave.

"I know of your family," Derek said.  "The one that attacked you has done so to others in hopes of finding a good host body for his plans."

"That's one thing we were discussing," Xander said.  "I talked to Nick and Alex a few years back.  I'm Xander, this is the slayer Buffy."

Derek nodded at her.  "It is goot to meet you, Miss Summers.  I've heard of your work on the hellmouth."  He looked at Xander.  "Nick said your last letter cracked him up, Mr. Harris."  Xander grinned.  "Is that all of the plan?"

The demon poked him on the arm and showed him the notes he had been making.  "The peaceful community might like that.  Even though his father is the sort to take out all demonic beings, lower and higher, his son is thoughtful, good at research, and has ethics that we would all enjoy the Council suddenly having."

Derek read them, nodding.  "That is a goot plan."  He handed it back.  "Let me call someone?"  D'Hoffryn nodded.  Derek walked over the bodies to go in the hallway to call.  "Nick, calm down.  I'm fine.  A plot to start a final apocalypse was ended and they're gathering support to reform things.  Put me on with London's precept please."  He did that.  Derek spoke in his native language so no one outside the demons understood him.  He got permission and they agreed they liked it.  Derek hung up and walked back in there.  "The London House would be on call to help him if he needed," he said.

D'Hoffryn smiled.  "Thank you."  He looked at Sam, who nodded but had his lips pressed tightly together.  "Wish granted.  The Council shall sleep until you can go wake them up.  They will follow you."  He cast the wish out.  It broke protections on the Council that were so old no one knew who first cast them.  But it was making sure that they didn't become what they fought.  He looked at the Legacy.  "Some houses may use the same treatment some year soon," he warned.  "Vengeance is for my kind and his father's kind of hunter, not yours."  He disappeared.

"I will pass on that warning."  He looked at the others.  "Are we meeting to discuss the military involvement with the invasion?"  Sam Carter nodded.  Derek smiled.  "Then I should be here as well.  I belong to a group that is nearly as old as the Council and we do things like the roaming hunters do."

"We've heard good and bad things about your group," John Winchester admitted.

"Some of the old line are seriously in trouble," Xander told him.  "One in Paris summoned a higher demon to handle his divorce without a judge."

"That's absolutely charming," John Sheppard sneered.

"We handle those in-house and he was punished very fast," Derek assured them.  He looked at the blond man next to the demon.  "You are?"

"Spike."  He smirked as he held out a hand.  "You're in the Legacy then?"

"I am, Scourge of Europe."

"I miss those days.  Bloody chip won't let me hunt usually.  Get my kicks in helping the white hats kick butt now."

"Wonderful."  He sat down, looking at the young man.  "How are things, Mr. Harris?"

"They're mostly okay.  I think my financial manager's possessed or he's hidden an agenda for a very long time.  I'm hearing hints that Gretchen, my housekeeper, may be the same sort of thing but I don't want to listen to them right now.  I know others have put pressure on her to have me calm down in the past."

"Hmm.  Nick is actually in Hawaii right now to check on those bottles."

"They're in my bag.  With a mystical alarm on them."

"Goot."  He smiled as he called Nick.  "I am looking at Mr. Harris.  Please do check on his financial manager and his housekeeper?  Who would do such a thing?"  He grimaced.  "Thank you.  Please do."  He hung up.  "Someone attempted to poison your dogs but they are all doing well with the veterinarian."  Xander nodded tersely.  "He believes it was your neighbors.  Or they were the ones arrested for it."

"I'm having the conservative asshole eaten when I get home.  Why would he poison puppies?"

"He thinks you're evil for some reason."

"I don't party, throw parties, drink, do drugs, or anything else.  So am I evil because I can't see?"

"Perhaps.  They did not give me reasons."

"Buffy, can you text that number and see if they'll tell me why I have to destroy them?"

"Sure, Xander.  Anyone who would poison seeing eye puppies is evil in my book."  She did and got one back.  "You're evil because you're unmarried, don't have kids, and you're pathetic because you're blind.  Clearly their god made a mistake making you."

"They're being eaten when I get home."  She sent that back and got a message back.  "No?"

"No, they said they're in jail and the judge told them they were pathetic, not you.   Whoever this is said they're part of some cult that's trying to move onto the island."

"I'll storm their compound myself," Xander quipped.  "Then we'll see who's pathetic and which God or Goddess wins."  She sent that back.  She burst out cackling at the answer.  "What?" he complained.

"Whoever this is said that Steve said he'd back you up since they think all single men should have children by the time they're twenty-five or they should be sacrificed after being raped for being wrong.  He also said it's too late, he already did it."

"Good!"  He shifted in his chair.

"Are you looking at one of the puppies to replace yours?" John Sheppard asked him.

Xander nodded.  "I am.  When they heard a death threat against me shot my first one they don't want to get me another one, even if I pay the full going rate for one."  Melusia appeared and whined, putting his head on Xander's knee.  "I love you too, Melusia.  You're a good step puppy.  The puppies will be just fine or I'll go destroy people."  The dog patted his leg with a paw then sat in convenient petting range.

Sam Carter and Rodney both looked at the dog.  "What breed is that?" she asked.

"Hellhound," John Winchester said.

Xander grinned.  "He knocked up my dog.  He adopted me after I helped him when he was hit by a car."

"Aww," Sam said.  "He's clearly more friendly than most of them."  Xander grinned and nodded.  "Is he a good seeing eye dog?"

"Yup.  If he senses a threat he tends to bite them before I can."

"That's good," Buffy said.  "But a bit wiggy, Xander."  He shrugged.  "I know, it's a good seeing eye dog for you."

"He doesn't have all the commands down but he's doing a good job most of the time.  He's helped me train some of the puppies too."  He petted his step dog.  He loved Melusia a lot.  He was a good pet.  They got down to what each group did and didn't handle, where it handled it, and how to get necessary information to hunters when something needed to be handled because it was too huge to wait.  Sam had some ideas on that and how it could be accomplished.  He and Derek went over his ideas for the Council as well.  Buffy put in her ideas.

Xander had a few of his own, including a technology center to help with some of the other problems.  Maybe a webpage with known troubles or something.  They were settling things when a sniffling Willow wandered in and hugged Buffy.  Xander looked up at the scents changing.  Naomi came in and fussed at his hair but gave him a hug, petting the dog, and then left them alone, dragging Willow out by her arm.  Xander grinned at Buffy.  "That's Blair's mom.  I thought Willow might like an understanding, earth-centered older woman to mentor her."

"It's clearly helped," she agreed.  She even sounded cheerful about it before he found her a mother figure to nag her about stuff.  John smiled at her.  She grinned back.  "She could use a good coven too."

"I'm sure Naomi knows a few."  Xander winked at her.  She whimpered.

The general came in and the military people saluted him.  He waved them down.  "Have we got a working plan?  Who're you?" he asked.

"Derek Rayne.  I head a house of people who do much the same thing."

"Oh, good!"  He smiled.  "It's great that most of the time you guys can handle it on your own.  How many bigger things are we foreseeing?"

"There's a whole library of prophecies in England," Xander said.  "Sam's going to help with that."  He pointed at him.  "Every spring there's something going on.  We're working on the plans for that right now."

"Even better.  We like it when we only have to back people up and perhaps handle the really big things, like Sunnydale."

"Sink.  It," John Winchester said.  Buffy swatted him.  "It'd save lives."

"I'd have to move.  I can't stand being in LA with Angel all the time.  I'd be an angsty, whiny Buffy again."

"Why?" Sam Winchester asked.

"Because I used to date Angel and I made him happy enough that he lost his soul.  Not one word, Xander."

"Fine.  Even though I was right," he sighed, waving a hand then going back to petting his step-dog.

"It could've been worse," Buffy complained.

"Yeah, you could've been dating Spike *and* Angel."

Spike shook his head.  "No.  I'd never share a bint with the poofter again.  Thanks anyway."  Everyone stared at him.  "He's a greedy hog, won't let you get a single taste of the blood or someat."

"I don't want to know," John Winchester decided.

"Vampires are easy sluts," Xander told him.  "If it's got a hole it's great.  If it doesn't, they might chew one for the fun."

"I definitely don't want to know," John said.

"Ah, the good ol' days of being a scourge," Spike sighed with a scary grin on his face.  He noticed the whelp whispering to his dog and decided he was probably going to be pounced.  Nope, it got the thing following the general.  It settled in to have a snack from it.  Spike looked then at Xander.  "How do you sense them?"

"The hyena's senses say that they stink.  Each breed stinks differently but they still stink.  Even your demon stinks to her."

"Her?" Sam Carter asked.  "Hyenas are matriarchal, right?"  Xander nodded.  "Were you...."  He grinned and nodded.  "Is that weird?  I know nothing at all about possessions."

"Not really.  Sometimes she wants cubs but she knows I can't do that.  She's never pushed her desire for a mate on me.  I've been bi as long as I remember.   No matter what Willow wanted."

"Why did she hate that when she's a lesbian?" Buffy asked, her nose wrinkling.

"There's any number of people who believe men being gay is wrong while women doing the same thing is acceptable," Rodney told her.  "No one's sure why they're taught that beyond their fathers liking lesbian pornography but they are."

Xander nodded.  "Her parents don't like her being a lesbian.  The last I heard, her mom was on TV defending Willow by saying it was just a phase.  Right now she was more asexual while exploring her ideology.  Since it was a call-in show I called in and pointed out I knew her daughter, she had nearly married Tara, and had in fact killed the people who had killed her girlfriend.  Also that her best male friend was bi, had been bi for all his life, and she was the reason that Willow had went bigot on him a few times even though her own girlfriend had been the best woman in the world for anyone to have as their own.  She demanded they hang up on me and go to station break."  He grinned.

"We haven't seen her since she tried to burn her daughter at a stake, but wow, what a cow.  My mother would've kicked her hiney all over that town."

"She's doing a call-in shrink show in Miami.  Screwing up all the shallow people better really.  The one before that call she had told it was perfectly all right if the girl worried about her weight even if the doctor said she was underweight because things like that mattered in a young woman's life.  Her mother snatched the phone and berated Willow's mom for telling her anorexic daughter who weighed less than a hundred pounds that."

"Yeah, my mother would've been all over the hiney kicking."  She shook her head.  "I wonder if we can do a séance and have Mom go talk to her."

"You're damn lucky I haven't called your mom back to talk to you."

"I know.  Thank you for not doing that.  It definitely wouldn't have made it any more happy."

"Uh-huh.  Remember that lesson?"

"Gladly.  You're not as helpless as I thought and don't need as much protecting.  You seem to be doing all right at the moment."  She looked at the staring dog.  "I'm not alpo, even if slayers are tasty.  Sniff Spike instead.  He likes hell mutts.  One likes to watch soaps with him."

Derek looked over the table.  "He's a finely conformed hell mutt.  Halfbreed?"  The dog growled.  "I meant no offense. You don't have the ruff."  The dog put it up.  "I did not know you could hide it."  The dog barked and settled back down to be a loving step-mutt.  Xander grinned at him.

The general shook his head.  "You're all insane."

Xander nodded.  "We have a very flexible way of looking at things because half the time we deal with things that other consider nightmares or too strange to acknowledge.  If we aren't mentally flexible then we'd break and start crying and have to sit in a pretty white, padded room without mirrors or windows.  The latched down bed."

Buffy shuddered.  "Eww.  No, please no."

"If you get that bad, we'll send you on a suicide mission," Xander offered.

She smiled.  "I could like that.  Thank you."

"Welcome."  He petted his dog and turned his head in the general's direction.  "So, how many units are they moving to population controlling places?"

"Three at the moment.  There's three approaches they want to try."

"We've heard," the demon said.  "Two are going to be suicide because they'll end up attacking any of the community that do things like protest that we are sentient beings."  The general stared at him.  "I was invited."

"He kept whispering suggestions from the air vent," Xander said when the general looked at him.  "It's his people and others of his kind that are having the issues.  If people were smart, they would've asked some of the civil rights people to the table too."

"Yes, they would have."  He cleared his throat.  "The one we like best seems to be General Merdeckers."

The demon shuddered.  "He's going to start pushing to put us on reservations.  While some of us were here first, we're not that sort of native."  The general spluttered.  "To quote the Knight in Miami: quit spitting, real men swallow."

"Xander!" Buffy complained.

"It was some IAB asshole who decided I was evil for having officers try to shoot my cute ass.  Beyond that, he smelled like a puss sucker."  He looked at the general again.  "What are each of the methods?  You have the biggest heads of the groups that deal with all sorts of demons.  You have a few representatives of them.  We can tell you where each plan is going to fail, and how bad that failure is going to end up in loss of life on both sides probably."

"It's not really open for debate."

"Then I'd move your assholes out of LA," Xander said with a grin.  The demon moaned.  "Because I heard earlier that they opened fire on a peaceful protest stating demons were more sentient than dogs."  The hellhound barked.  "He brought me a note."

The general swallowed.  "Who?"

"The military guys there.  I have no idea which unit it was but it was someone military in charge."  He looked down.  "Go snatch Gunn...."

"No, let me call," Buffy said.  She called his phone.  It said it was out of service.  She stared at her phone and dialed another number.  "Or not."

"Go fetch," Xander ordered.  The dog bayed and disappeared.  He came back with Connor, Gunn, and Wesley.  "The others?"

"No clue," Gunn sighed.  He pulled a chair over and sat down.  "Thanks for the saving, white boy.  They had us in *interrogation* about how bad the demon menace was and how deep their corruption went into the city.  How many people we had to eliminate to make sure that their taint was gone."

Xander rubbed his forehead.  "Ya know, I respect most of the military," he told them.  "Especially you guys' project.  I'm not going to let the government start another extermination campaign.  Fuck it.  I have the Initiative files."  Buffy whimpered, shaking her head.  "Yeah, all of them.  Mack got them for me."  He looked at the general.  "Are you going to stand up for mass extinction of species that are peaceful and in a lot of ways helpful?"

"No.  But I'm not over that unit."

"I can lend you my gun," Xander offered.  The hellhound barked and left, coming back with a damaged looking Angel.  "Crap, even I can smell the blood."

Buffy and Spike got up, taking Angel out to a bathroom to help him.  She let him suck on her wrist for a few seconds too.

"That leaves Fred," Gunn said.  He looked at the dog.  "Can you find Fred?"  The dog growled.

Xander stood up.  "Take me to Fred."

"No," John Sheppard ordered.  "Take me to Fred.  I probably outrank most of them and I'm damn sure not picky when I don't have to be."  He patted Xander on the arm.  "Sit.  This is real soldier's work."  Xander sat.   He and Cam left via the dog.

Sam Carter touched her earpiece a minute later.  "Sheppard just called for medical backup.  They had humans there being tortured," she told the General, glaring at him. "Put it all under O'Neill.  Even if he does hate the paperwork."

"I've heard rumors about him," Buffy said as she walked back.  "Xander, we're breaking into your room to get him clothes."  He held up his card key.  "Same room?"

"348."

"Okay."  She went to get him something to wear.

"Spike, does he need another donation?"

"No.  We're good," he called back.  He leaned into the room.  "They didn't realize he was a vampire until they started to torture him."  He looked at Gunn.  "She's gonna need some help."  Xander growled.  "Angel thinks so, yeah."  He left again.

"I'll fuck them up," Gunn promised.  Wesley patted him on the arm.  "Sure, you can back me up.  You and Connor can borrow some of Cordy's former pompoms from storage and use 'em."

Xander grinned.  "Need a weapon?"

"No, we found the ones you sent us," Gunn said dryly, batting him on the arm.  "Thanks."

"Welcome.  Damned if I want the world to end unless I cause it."  Sam Winchester cackled.  "I told the law firm if they pissed me off I was going to open those Bottles of Ancients in their offices and then kill the demons once they were all dead.  They thought I was joking too."

"Have you?" Sam Carter asked.

"No.  I did unleash a lesser one I found though."  He grinned.  "They had rented a house in Hawaii while planning on how to snatch and kill me.  The demon made a mess of the house, which I paid to repair, but they never doubted I'd take them all out again."  She gaped.  "I can't risk a weakness there, Colonel Carter.  The same as you can't because you're female and they'd see you as weaker."

"I understand that," she decided.  Wesley wrote something and held it up.  "I can definitely understand that but some horned demon named D'Hoffil or something appointed him as head of the Council."  She pointed at Sam Winchester.

"That's my son Sammy, Wes," John said.  Wesley looked at him and smiled, nodding his head.  He pointed at his throat.  "How?"

"Wesley was trying to get me away from my father due to a prophecy so my father ripped out his throat," Connor said.  "Though I still don't like Angel all that much, even after growing up on a demon plane."

The general blinked at him.  "You did?"  Connor nodded.  "How many various planes are there?"

"Holt never told me that.  He took me to a pretty bad one when I was a baby and I grew up there at an accelerated rate.  I grew up destroying demons.  That's why there's a prophecy that calls me a Destroyer."  Xander nodded.  "Though Angel keeps comparing me to him for some reason."  He scowled at Xander, who grinned.

"Xander's very much a do what's necessary sort," the demon said.  "Though you don't wear ugly clothes or quip as you slay like your near-stepmother, you are a lot alike in ways that count.  Including having loved Miss Chase."

"I do miss her," Xander agreed.  "She was my first real girlfriend and I've known her since kindergarten.  We were friends until she got popular."

"She was kinda like my mom but there was that whole 'not her' thing and the sleeping thing," Connor admitted.  "It screws up my mind to even think about it."

"I wonder if her gaspy noises still sound like barks when she's getting happy," Xander said, looking up.  Cordy appeared and swatted him. He grinned.  "So, Miss Higher Being Glowy Squid Girl, any wise advice?"

"She's a plant," she sighed.  "I'm damn sorry, Xander.  The community wanted you under watch."  He sighed but nodded.  "As for that shit going on?  Yeah, O'Neill's going to get it.  Fred's not the sort of girl to sob about it.   She'll beat someone to death and then quietly sob later on."

"I've got a guest room if she needs it," he reminded her.

"I'll tell her."  She looked at Connor.  "I miss you too, dickhead."  Connor grinned at her.  "For now, protect each other.  The law firm has one last shot."

"No they don't," Xander said.  He summoned the bag, looking at the little bottles.  "Awww, they took one."  He found the device in the bag and matched the dots to the bottles, then pushed one.  She gaped at him, starting to whimper.  He grinned.  "I've had enough."

"Yeah," she said weakly.  "Clearly.  How are you going to kill them all the way out here?"

"Did you ever meet Anya?  Not the one I took to the prom but the one from about three years ago?  She said she talked to you about me."

She shivered.  "Oh, damn."  He grinned.  "Okay, let me go start quarantine procedures."  She zipped off to warn others.  "Harris released a bottle but it has a specific disease to kill demons," she shouted into the group outside the current law firm offices.  A few looked at her and the news spread.  They fled the scene before they could get sick.

A higher demon walked out picking his teeth with someone's arm bone.  "That won't matter to me."  He smiled at her.  "You look... sweet."

"Not really, Queen C was never really sweet," Faith said and shot him with something Xander had sent her last week in case this happened.  The demon screamed and flailed, knocking the building down.  It died though which was the important thing.  She looked at Cordelia, who was giving her a funny look.  "X sent it last week in case one got free."

"That so figures."  She shook all over.  "Okay.  Well.....  Gotta go hide before more higher ups hate Xander."  She faded out.

Faith walked off, finding cop cars screaming up.  "Someone they had a contract on took them out.  You might want to watch out, he infected the demons he released with a huge demon flu so they couldn't spread too far."  She walked off shaking her head.

"Ma'am, who are you?" one of the officers called.

She grinned back at him.  "The slayer Faith."  She whistled as she strolled off, strutting just a bit.  She did have it to flaunt.  She deserved some nice staring at her ass.  She ran into a guy in a old charger, staring at him.  "What?  Too hot for you to handle?" she quipped.

"Ma'am, I'm a hunter."

She grinned.  "I'm a slayer.  I'm told some of yours are now at the conference in Colorado with Buffy."

He smiled.  "That's good!  What happened?"  She walked him off telling him about Xander and what had happened.  She was going to make sure that the hunters respected Xander more than his former friends ever did.  She owed it to him.

***

John Winchester got a text from a friend and gaped at the boy.  "The flu?"

"A demon version they weren't immune to because it occurred after they had been trapped."  He smiled.  "Did Faith get the other one?"  John nodded slowly.  "Wonderful."  He grinned.  "And boom, no more law firm threat."  He waved a hand.  The dog pounced it so he petted him.  "I'm sorry, did I quit petting, Melusia?" he teased, smiling at the dog.  He barked and got cuddly.  He even crawled up into his human's lap.  Xander let him and pet him.

The general was slowly shaking his head.  "What did you do?"

"I took out the rest of that law firm.  I warned them multiple times.  I'm a man of my word.  Beyond that, I made sure that they quit prompting bad ideas that would kill everyone for their pleasure."

The demon nodded.  "They were pushing some of the demons to step up for their rights and some of the soldiers to do horrific things."

"Is my financial guy possessed or one of them?"

"One of them."

"Huh," Xander said.  "Is Buffy's phone here?"  John took it and slid it toward him.  "If I touch it, whatever Willow's funky curse is will kill it.  Can someone text that last number she texted and tell them about that?"  Sam Carter took it to do that.  Then she handed Xander her phone.  Which quit working.  He turned his head in her direction.  "How new is it?  A few of the new android phones can get calls and texts in but nothing else."

"Huh," she said, taking it to pull apart and test.  She and Rodney went over it.  It should work.  It wasn't but it should.

"I'm pretty sure it's a curse," Xander admitted.  "I have no idea who did it if it wasn't her."

"It probably was," Buffy said as she walked in.  "Did you whammy my phone?"

"No."  She got it and sat back down.  "He fine?"

"Angel's resting in my room.  I won't even jump him later.  Is Fred all right?"  Sam Carter called to get a situation report and nodded.  "Good.  I'd hate to have to destroy the military for that."

"Amen, sister," Xander quipped.

She stared at him.  "What did you do?"

"I had the bottles booby-trapped," he said with a smile.  "A tiny vial of blood mixed with a flu sample."  She whimpered.  "And I sent Faith something to kill anything that made it past the flu."  Cordelia appeared, staring at him.  "I can feel you.  Am I still cute enough for you?"

"Sometimes evil enough for me," she said dryly.  "You missed the senior partners.  They weren't eaten."

"Do they get flu shots?"

She paused.  "I don't know," she admitted.  "The Powers are in comas from the backlash of power changing hands."

"Sorry, not a real deity, no matter what some people claim in bed."

She smiled.  "Good point."

"My house and puppies?"

"They're good.  You might want to talk to her."

"I might want to make sure my accounts are all there too," he said dryly.

"I think someone's doing that for you.  Clearly you get mean when they start thinking you're an easy target and helpless."  Xander grinned and nodded.  "Shit, this is going to be bad," she muttered as she disappeared.  She went to D'Hoffryn.  "They screwed with him."

"I know."

"I had to tell him about Gretchen."

"I heard."

"He's livid.  He's at the smiling kindly stage of livid, D'Hoffryn."

"I know."  He took a swig from a Pepto bottle.  "I can feel it.  I've had my people go reclaim what's his.  I've had them add punitive damages.  I had one of the other law firms' best people help him.  He will sell those other bottles if this is all settled."

"He said he'd dust them."

"He sells half to the Council.  Winchester can afford it at the rate they had before."  She nodded, going to put that into writing in front of Sam.  Plus that there were people helping Xander's things.  Then she faded back out.

Sam looked at it then at the weird guy.  "The glowy one gave me a note saying that the Council's buying half of the remaining bottles for the rate the first three were bought for and they've got someone working to get all your stuff back."

"Cool," he said with a slight grin.  "Thank you, Sam.  I'll appreciate the new twelve billion."

"Excuse me?" John asked.

Derek nodded.  "That's fair.  I know the demon community had them relatively cheaply because no one wanted to risk owning one."

"I got all of the ones I had for nine thousand," Xander said with a happy grin.  "Though now I have to hire a new housekeeper and a new financial guy."

"Nick knows some very nice people.  He'll see if there's some that are very protective."  Xander beamed at him and nodded.

Another general walked in.  "General, the President wants to talk to you.  He's at Cheyenne."

Xander tipped his head back.  "Is Fred all right?"

"She's under very competent medical care, Mr. Harris.  She's being fussed over and poor babied until she wants to scream and my people are highly offended on her behalf.  The ones that the colonels left are damn sorry."

"Thank you.  Fred's a really great woman," Xander said.  "I'd hate to kill anyone else who hurt her."

"So would we."  He patted him on the head.  "Cute dog."  It stared at him.  "I saw one of those in the mess the other day."

"He's a hellhound.  His name is Melusia.  Melusia, this is a general that we're told is decent."  The dog sniffed him and let him pet his ears.  "Good boy."  He petted the dog.  "The rest?"

"The president is very upset.  He's back to swearing."  That general walked out moaning.  "As for right now, the hotel is really upset that this meeting is turning out so weird."

"I know," Xander admitted.  His phone beeped.  "Hey!  Someone removed the curse!"  He took it out to listen to the voice reading the text message.  "Awww.  Thanks, Danny."  He texted back to him.  "I need one with a keyboard but I broke my last one beating the crap out of someone who broke in."

Buffy took it to text better for him.  "There."  She handed it back.  "There's an app that reads text messages?"

"Yeah, someone at one of the schools for the blind made one.  It's generally available for free through most of them."  He put his phone back.  "Thank you."

"Welcome."  She sat down too.  "So, General....."

"Landry, Hank Landry.  I'm over all three Colonels and Doctor McKay's project, ma'am."

"Buffy Summers."  She smiled at him.  "The senior slayer since I'm the longest called."

"Pleasure to meet you, miss."  He nodded at her.  Another man walked in.  "Jack, problems?" he asked quietly.

"I got nominated because I went off on some people who deserved it.  Since I could tell Sheppard to quit stomping someone's head into the grated floor and got Mitchell to quit beating the crap out of another one, it's my duty."

Sam Carter smiled.  "Nice to work with you again, sir.  Here's what we've figured out so far."  He read it, nodding slightly.  "We need to set rules for the soldiers doing the actual guarding and handling of any peaceful protests."

"Agreed.  There's no reason to make anything peaceful mad enough to change that.  It didn't work in the sixties, it doesn't work now."  He sat down in the other general's seat.  "Thanks, Hank."

"Welcome, Jack."  He left this headache in his hands.

John and Cam got beamed back.  "Sir, finished beating idiots until they learned something," Cam said, saluting with a grin.

"Thank you, guys.  I'm glad we could stop that.  Sit."  They sat down.  "What, exactly, happened just now in LA?"  Xander told him.  "Okay," he decided.  "You can have *one*."  Xander stared at him.  "My original group, which includes both colonels, both doctors, and a bunch of weird stuff, will guard the two that Winchester and the Council isn't buying.  If we have to use them, we'll release them on bad things that are attacking from the outside, like the wraith if you've heard of them."

"I have actually."

"I got the notes on how any takeover would go," Jack said.  "We'll handle it that way."  Xander grinned and slid two down to him.  "Thank you.  The self destruct?"

"The flu."

"Even better.  Hand Sam his three please?"  Xander did that.  "Thank you.  We want you able to protect yourself but being less paranoid, especially around those in this room.  I doubt anyone in here is going to hurt you."

"She's the redhead up the hall," Buffy mouthed.  She was watching Willow storm their way.

"How dare you do that!" Willow shouted as she stomped in and slammed open the doors.  "They're soldiers, Xander!"

"Who just raped Fred," Xander told her.  "Tortured Angel.  Had Wes, Gunn, and Connor to torture."  She growled.  The dog bayed a happy bark at her.  Willow tried to magic him but Xander protected him.  Xander sneered at her.  "You're so dark," he said.  "I don't think you ever could find your way back to the light, Willow."

"I'm not dark!" she shouted.

"Bullshit.  If you weren't, you'd care that your friends got attacked."

"Who said they're my friends?" she demanded.  Wesley cleared his throat.  "Even you!  You're more worthless than he was."  He punched her, making her fall down.

"Oh, crap," Buffy said, jumping on Willow when she got up.  Her hair was starting to change colors.

Xander took the easy route and pulled something out, weighing it in his hand before reloading his gun.  "Move, Buffy."  She whimpered, not moving.  "Now.  It's clear her magic addiction is speaking and the bribes from the bad people are still working."  She sneered and shot a spell at him.  He shot her.  She went down and started to cry.  "I don't usually shoot people in a fatal manner, Willow.  It leads to lacking later questioning."  He stared at her.  "You've been endangering me for years.  You've cost seven people their lives because you told them where you had set me up.  Even after I left they still attacked that apartment a few times.  Killed seven people."  She tried to back away from him.

"You burn bad witches, Harris, not shoot them," John Winchester said firmly.  "We can do that."

"Actually in her case, the bullets are special."  He popped the clip out and let him have it.  "That's a hollow glass tube with a potion that leaches powers back and taint back where it should be.  Two more of those and she'll be powerless forever."

John took the gun to reload.  "That's not a bad idea by my way of thinking."  He got up and walked Willow off, taking her outside so he could handle her.  Then they'd talk about her dark tendencies and how she had gotten powers.  She clearly wasn't a bloodlined witch.

"I don't disagree with binding her or whatever," Buffy said.  "I don't want him to kill her, Xander.  I can't lose any more."

"He won't," Sam said.  "There's nowhere to start a bonfire now.  You take her home later and keep her there."  Buffy nodded.  "Are you guys going back to Sunnydale?"

"I am.  Faith might stay in LA for a while."

"Let me know when I take charge."  She smiled and nodded.  "I'll make sure you girls are backed up.  There's no reason for trained people to be sitting on their butts in a library when there's a crisis going on."

"Thanks, Sam."  She sat down again.  "Xander, why did you bring those bullets?"

"Because there's been a few witches that've been trying me recently.  Things like the phone curse and one trying to poison me in Miami for being me."

"She does it to all hunters," the demon said.

"Good to know."

"The other two you've used them on have both warranted a good burning," the demon assured him.  "That one... I'm not sure what her problem is or if it's her problem or someone else's problem."

"If there's a someone else I'd guess that's a combination," Sam said.  "She's been said to have a magic addiction?  She nearly ended the world?"  Buffy shuddered but nodded.  "No.  We want people on the light, or reformed and back on the light's side, to help the slayers."  He looked at Spike.

"Most fun I've had in decades," he quipped with an evil smirk.

"The minute that chip breaks, you're a fun toy," Connor assured him.

"I like you, boy," Spike decided with an evil smirk for him.  "Should turn you into my next princess.  It'd make sense since Angelus made my last one too."

"Um, eww," Xander said.  "I don't want to imagine Angel getting down and funky with anyone, whoever his mother was included."

"Darla," Buffy said.

"Even more gross.  She was the blonde one, right?"  Buffy nodded.  "Yes, no?"

"Yup," Spike said.

"Then eww.  She's hopefully dead?"

"Went to dust when I was born," Connor sighed.  "Which is so fucked up."

Buffy stared at him.  "Language."

"Fine, step-mother."

"At least I didn't have labor pains with you," she decided, cracking him up.  "Gunn, are your people coming to Sunnydale for a few days?"

"We might," he admitted.  "It's probably safer if they're still scared of all this."

"Yeah, I called Willie and he said most of the demons are still hiding and shaking under blankies," Buffy told him.  "Lots of vamps though if you need to train some new people."

"Sure," he said with a smile for her.

"Whoa," Jack O'Neill said.  "Train them?"

"He runs a street gang that helps the homeless be protected from the vamps," Buffy said with a smile.  "They're real handy to have at my back too.  Faith got some flirting with them.  They appreciate that one of the ones Willow activated was from Harlem and another one from Senegal."

"They're sweet girls," Gunn agreed.  "My guys could do worse than flirt with the slayers."

"We'd like the military to handle most everything," O'Neill said.  They all shook their heads.  "No why?"

"Because too many things have been going on for ages," Derek said.  "My group does a lot of artifact work.  The roaming hunters take care of smaller, regional problems or spirits causing a group problems.  The military cannot be everywhere."

"We'd like to have you handle the bigger things," Buffy said.  "Usually we have a good handle on what's going on.  A few times a year I handle something a bit bigger and then an apocalypse attempt in the spring.  LA gets about the same thing."

"Until you can sit a demon hunting-trained soldier at least in every county, you'll never be able to handle all of it," Xander said.  "Guys like John will still probably be hunting in this generation and whatever of the next has started.  For them, it's a clear case of 'it won't happen again' and 'I'll get that bastard'.  I've got some of that myself."

Gunn nodded.  "Me too.  They took my sister."

"I get that," Jack agreed.  "But anything too huge, I want the soldiers to handle."

Xander felt along the notes he had tapped out with a pencil.  "The midwest is mostly covered.  LA is covered.  San Fran and a few other cities in the world are covered.  How likely is it that another city is going to be targeted?" he asked, turning his head in Spike's direction.

"The next is due in London actually," the demon sighed.  "New York will probably not go up outside some localized gangs and some localized protests.  The same for most east coast cities and Chicago.  Denver has a planned protest next week sometime."  The general nodded, making notes.  The demon pulled out his phone to get into something.  He tapped out a message and got one back.  "The demons would be very honored for the most part if the soldiers would make sure that any peaceful protests stay peaceful. The locals are often trying to make anything peaceful less than peaceful.  Including trying to kill us."

"I can see that being part of the job," Jack agreed.  "Anything huge like a battle is our job though."

The demon smiled.  "That is not a problem for the peaceful communities.  I will bring you to the local council later so they can call a talk about upcoming things and any problems we hear.  That way we can tell you where things are planned and any rumors we hear of the bad things."

"Get him onto the D'A'Kar website," Xander said.

"That does have most of it," the demon agreed with a smile.  "Not all of the attacks though."

"There's a lot of rumors and the ones that aren't I'm pretty sure he's got a guy who can learn to play kitten poker."

"That is not a bad idea," Spike agreed.  "That'd help a lot.  That's how we got ours."

"Outside flipping through the prophecy books," Buffy agreed.

Sam cleared his throat.  "When the library's mine I'll gladly let their people browse and get what they need."

Sam Carter smiled at him.  "That would be appreciated, Sam."  He grinned back.  "How long do you think it'll take?"

"He said they'd sleep until I opened the door.  Wesley, can you come with me?"  Wesley smiled and nodded.  "Thank you."

"Wes, I'm sorry about your dad," Xander said quietly.  Wesley patted him on the arm.  Buffy was making a whining noise.  "He attacked my apartment in Miami."

"Maybe Sunnydale was safer," she muttered.  He smirked at her.  "Okay, so the prophecy things can be passed on, Sam?"  He nodded.  "That'll help.  I know Giles doesn't have a full set of books."

"I don't think anyone can," Xander said.  "Their library's said to be at least the size of UC Hellmouth's biggest building, including an underground layer full of possessed books."  Spike nodded, making a slightly moan-like tiny noise.  "What?  Your relatives were?  Wow, I thought Angelus only saved you from a life as a crappy poet."

"Not quite."

"You were?" Buffy asked.

"My uncle was," he corrected.  "They wanted me to join and I ran from them.  Boring, stupid shite really."  He was flipping his lighter over and over in his fingers.

Xander finally reached over and snatched it, tossing it in a corner behind him.  "Quit.  I get echoes from that."

"What's wrong?  Too sensitive?" Spike sneered.

"No, if I was I'd ask Blair for help," he said dryly.  "That tapping echoes."

"Fine, whatever," Spike growled.

"Keep it up, watch me set you up with someone."

Spike shook his head quickly, turning into a shudder.  "No, you have bad taste."

"Is that why Dru liked me so much?" he quipped back with an evil smirk.

"Proved she was evil," Buffy quipped.  "But she was a vampire, Xander."

"She's still a vampire."

"Bull, we killed her," Gunn said.

"Bullshit," Xander shot back.  "I got a letter from her last week in Miami.  She was in Mexico City."

Spike nodded.  "I've gotten a few of those too.  Not as flowing as they usually were so I can't be sure it's not her in a more sane mood."

"It sounded like her when I had my native guide read it to me.  I felt her blush too.  She was real blunt about what she thought kittens were good for."  He patted himself down.  "Did I bring down my brown bag?"  Sam Carter handed it to him.  "Thanks."  He found it and slid it across the table.

Spike read it and nodded.  "That's Dru's handwriting."  Gunn took it and blushed.  "She always did agree that you were the best hope for a childe between us."  He shook his head again.  "She's still batty though. You're not furry and don't have the ears."

Xander grinned.  "You didn't read the part where she was going to change me by magic, then turn me as a kitten and change me back?"  Spike stood up and snatched the letter to finish it.  He wanted to look, you could tell by the look on his face, but he was also wanting to scream.  Xander nodded.  "Yeah."

Buffy reached over to take it and read, blushing a lot.  She was bright red down into her cleavage.   "Yeah," she decided, putting it into her bag.  "We'll tell her you're not interested, Xander."

"Sure.  Have fun talking to her.  The princess is clearly a bit short of the true dark."

Spike sat down with a sigh.  "Any other shocks?"

Xander patted the bag and found something, tossing it at Spike's head.  "Found it in a store in Miami."

Spike looked at it, grinning.  "Blood flavored gum?"  He read the ingredients and the 'how we do it' section.  "Thanks."  He pulled out a piece and popped it in his mouth, humming in pleasure.  "Tastes right."

Xander grinned.  "Large goth population."

"Good for me, means I don't want a snack."  He leaned back in his chair chewing his gum.

Buffy shook her head.  "Eww."

"Some people like the taste of blood I guess," John Sheppard said.

Winchester nodded.  "Yeah, some do.  Still weird."  Xander pointed at Spike.  "Point taken, kid.  Can you maybe relax?"

Xander grinned.  "I am relaxed.  But tomorrow I go home to talk to my housekeeper and others."

"If I didn't have to go to England," Sam quipped.

"He has backup out there," Buffy said, waving her phone.

"I hope," Xander muttered.  "So, General, any other plans we have to make?"

"Not yet.  Are you going to be open for another conference say in January?  That way we can see if the bigger thing in the spring is going to need us?"  Everyone nodded.  "Hold it here?"

"Cali would be nice.  I'll probably be there," Buffy said.  "Spike too."

"I'm local," the demon said.  "I have an elder out that way who would probably sit if we nagged him into it.  He doesn't really like humans but it's better than an all-out war."

"Hozar," Xander said.

"He would be a good choice as well.  We can elect someone to speak for us," he decided, looking at the general.  "If we are still welcome?"

"I'd never want to bother anything that was already peaceful.  My plate's full without it," Jack told him.  "Elect someone."  That got a nod.  "Winchester?"

"I can be over that way.  I travel all over the country so I'll head that way around the holidays."

"Christmas and Yule is quiet," Buffy told him.  The demon and Spike shook his head.  "Not this year?"

"Two Old Ones are doing something in the midwest," Spike told her.  "Ancient Gods who got demoted."

Xander nodded.  "They're not real active though. And Samra's supposed to show up about then too."

"Samra?" Buffy asked, frowning some.  "Do I know that one?"

The demon leaned over to look down at her.  "No.  Your watcher should know the name though."  Wesley nodded quickly, writing out a note to hand to Buffy.

"Aw, Snorvil crap!" she muttered.  Connor burst out laughing.  "Connor, I might need some backing up."  She let him see it.

He nodded.  "Yeah, I can help you destroy that."  He handed it back.  "Can we check on Fred?"

"I can take you to the base so you can," Jack agreed.  He looked at the others, who nodded.  "Harris, are you going to be all right to get to the airport tomorrow?"

"Probably.  I can get a cab."

"Okay."

"If not, I'll be here tonight," Sam said quietly, staring at his father.

"I can get us a room," he agreed.  Sam nodded and they stood up when Xander did.  Sam took his new bottles of threat with him and Xander got his and his bags.  The hellhound puppy followed properly, like it normally would for a seeing eye dog.  Which the Winchesters thought was weird but Xander had proved he wasn't normal by any means.

***

Xander walked out of the airport and sighed.  He smelled the smog from the cars.  He heard a lot of chatter.  Not all of it good chatter.  He heard someone who jingled like they had a lot of keys.  "Are the cabs here?" he asked.

"Two doors up, sir, to the left."

"Thank you."  Xander and his dog walked that way, Xander pulling the trolley of bags behind him.  "Cabs, Melusia," he said quietly.  "Like cars for hire."  The dog barked and led him to one.  Xander sniffed.  "Foret."

"Knight.  Going home?"

"I am."  He let him take the cab and got into the car.  Melusia sat beside him.  The car took off and drove out of the congested airport.  "Big storm coming?"

"Yes, in two days.  There's no evacuations but a lot of people with second homes here are heading home."  The driver glanced back at him.  "What happened during the summit?"

"A lot.  We stopped the people that had the LA team captive.  We worked things out with O'Neill about when to meet next, how to integrate them into the hunters and other organizations.  I got some concessions from Buffy that I'm not actually helpless."

"We were told there was a wish made?"

"When I sent that bottle at Wolfram and Hart, things got unraveled.  D'Hoffryn decided Sam Winchester is the perfect person to reform the Watchers Council onto the Light's side."  He smiled.  "He seems pretty decent.  Educated, was going for a law degree.  Son of a hunter and brother of another so he understands the duty, not the bottom line."

"I have heard of his father and brother," the driver admitted.  "I will tell the others."

"Don't touch Sam.  His daddy's going to go bitch worse than I did on the world if Sam's hurt.  Especially since a lot were counting on the demons taking them out."

"Hmm," he said with a grimace.  "I've heard rumors."  He changed roads.

"We're going along the coast?"

"The other has school busses.  It'll take forever."

"That's fine.  Just wondering."

The driver smiled at the mirror.  "We know you're paranoid."

"After so many attacks in Miami?  Yeah.  Just a bit.  How's my dogs?"

"They're good from what I have heard.  Will they go into service?"

"Some.  Some may train as police dogs.  They have the right temperament."

"That's good.  Do they know they're half hellhound?"

"The ones that help me with them do."

"Interesting."

"I'll probably bring one into my own service so Melusia can go to whoever he's been training himself for."  He looked at the dog, who lapped him.  "Thanks, pupkins."  The dog rested his head on Xander's shoulder.  "Any other news I should hear?"

"Not at the moment."  He changed roads again but this time it was back onto the main road where Xander's house was.  Xander relaxed again.  "Are the slayers well?"

"Yes.  And Sam Winchester allowed Willow to be bound and depowered so she could go back to helping Buffy.  Her magic addiction is still out of control.  Thankfully Naomi's helping her."  He smiled.  "She needs an earth-centered mentor."

"The henna-haired one?  The mother of the bouncy, smart, curly haired one?"

"Yup."  He grinned.

"Then I believe we won't have to much worry about her again."

"I did shoot her with one of those potion bullets."

"Even better!"

"Then John Winchester took her for a talk."

"Oooh," he said with a wince and a hiss.  "At least Buffy will not be missing her too much."  He changed lanes to get off the main road and onto the smaller road Xander lived on.  It wasn't much farther.  He parked in the driveway and got out, taking the bags to put by the door.  Xander held out a bill.  "That's a ten, Knight."  Xander got another one and the demon took a third, patting him on the arm.  He drove off, going back to his proper escort duties.  His elders had to know the Knight was back and not happy.

Xander ran his swipe card and pushed in the code.  He put his bags inside by the door and then turned and locked it.  He paused and listened.  Gretchen was in the kitchen.  He walked that way to lean in the doorway and listen to what she was doing.  "So, how much do they pay you?" he asked, making her flinch.  She dropped a glass.  "And are you my housekeeper because of them or because you want to be?" he asked quietly.

"You heard?" she asked, moving to grab the broom so she could clean up the mess.

"Yeah.  Found out from Anya actually."

"The disease doc?"

"My ex."

"Um...."  She straightened up to stare at him.  "Anyanka told you?"  He nodded.  "I...."

"I've considered you like family for years, Gretchen," he said quietly.  "And this...  This is fucking with my head worse than Buffy and Willow did.  So let's be honest."

"They wanted you watched."  She finished cleaning up the mess.

"Did you stay because of that?"

She looked at him.  "You are my client, Xander.  I may be a half-demon but you're not.  Possessions don't count."

"No, but you can make a family from those you're not related to.  Which I have for many years."

"Well....  I'm not on that track."

"Then I'd suggest that you have a nice life.  Preferably somewhere else."  She stomped off.  He turned to lean his back against the doorframe, sighing a bit.  The dog barked and he petted him.  "Thanks, Melusia.  You're a good friend to have too.  Who has the dogs?" he called.

"Wolfe."

Xander found the house phone.  "Call Wolfe."  Nothing happened.  He checked, it beeped so it was on.  "What did you do?"

"What?" she demanded.  He waved the phone.  "I didn't touch the phone, Xander."

"I know it's not the same curse that Willow put on mine the night of the trial."  She sneered.  "I can feel that you know."  She stomped off.  "Is that why the kitchen smells like rat poison too?" he called.

"I was making my grandmother something."

"I thought you guys were allergic to arsenic too."  He pushed in the number, not getting any signal at all.  "Fuck," he muttered, going to the office.  He found his spare cellphone in there and used it.  "Call Wolfe."  It dialed, going right to customer service.  "What happened to my phone?" he asked calmly.  She told him.  "No, I paid the bill already this month."  She read off what happened.  "I'm going to kill that man.  Please do.  No, it's not closed.  If he did I'm going to ruin him and then kill him.  No, ma'am, he's my conservator because I'm blind," he said bluntly.  She reran it but the payment wouldn't go through.  "Thank you."  He walked off, going to get something he had hidden in his bedroom, which wasn't there.

"The lawyers took it the last time they broke in," she called.

He sighed, walking outside.  He looked up then around.  "Fuck this shit," he muttered, going to build a fire in the grill.  He used what little magic he had to do a 'please call me' sort of summoning.  It let someone know that you needed them.  Then he walked off muttering.  Wolfe showed up a bit later with the dogs, looking unamused.  "Did you know that Gretchen was sent to keep watch on me by the community?"

"No."

"Or that my conservator decided to cancel my accounts, and no one knows where they are?"

"No, I didn't."  He got out of the car and walked over.  "Are you okay?"

"No.  If I drank I'd be shit roaring drunk and throwing things," he said bluntly.  "Thankfully I'm not."  He rubbed his forehead.  "Can today just be a very bad dream?" he asked quietly.

"Sure, we can consider it that.  Let's get the puppies inside before Melusia goes through my car door to nuzzle them."  He got the dogs inside with the boy.  Gretchen stomped off.  Mack followed her to the curb, making her turn around.  "Is that the truth?"

"I'm not his family," she growled.

"Humans collect those around them that are like family," he said firmly.  "He considered you close enough for that, Gretchen.  Was it all an act to watch over him?"  She got her arm free.  "Well?"

"It's none of your business, human."

"It is because I'll have that bar shut down," he told her.

She laughed, shaking her head.  "We have people all around the government."

"Yes, but I can call the governor."  She gaped.  "So can the kid."

"Not now," she said smugly.

He smirked back.  "Which means you're under arrest for aiding and abetting felony theft and embezzlement."  She shrieked but he did it anyway.  The cab company sped off when they saw that.  He called the local officers in Robbery to come get her and why.  They sent a demon officer.  Wolfe stared at him.  "Are you going to do the same thing?"

"Hell no.  Even if McGarrett did take all his artillery and Winchester has three of the bottles, no!"  Mack stared him down.  "The law's the law."

"Good.  Then find it for him please?"  He handed her over.  "She was *assigned* to watch over him."  He walked off, going to calm Xander down.  He was in the backyard petting the dogs while sitting on the ground.  "Hey," he said, squatting beside him.  "It'll be okay."

"I'm fighting my urge to kill."

"I know you are."

"Both of them."

"I know.  I called Robbery, they'll find it, Xander."

"I sensed the demon."

"He said he'd be following the law."  Xander nodded once and went back to petting the dogs.  "McGarrett did an inventory."

"That's fine.  I almost expected to come home to nothing.  Did he get the shelves in there and the little cave?"

"No.  I never showed him those."  Xander let out a weak smile.  Mack petted him.  "You're tired.  Go to bed for now.  Get up in the morning and hopefully some things will be fixed."

"Willow was working with them too," he said quietly.

"I'm pretty sure someone's going to stop them."  He helped Xander up and inside.  The puppies tripped over each other but followed to nap with him.  He looked at the hellhound.  "You're good to him," he said quietly.  The dog barked and went in there to get his own petting time in.  Mack went to the kitchen to bottle up whatever she had been cooking that stunk.  He wanted to test it.  He tested everything else that was open in the kitchen, just in case.  Someone knocked.  "Back here," he called, walking toward the open front door.  "Didn't I close that?"  The officer shook his head.  "All right.  What's wrong?"

"You're Mack Wolfe?"

"Detective, retired, but yes.  Why?"

"Our Commander wants you."

"I'm watching over the resident.  He's blind and his housekeeper turned out to be stealing from him.  I'd say he could call but she and her accomplice had the phones turned off."

The officer winced.  "He's going to scream."

"Tell him to come scream at me in person," he ordered.  "And if he doesn't like it, he didn't need me."  The officer nodded and walked off to call that in.  He handed Mack his phone to talk to his boss.  "Wolfe."  He listened.  "Yay.  Really."  He listened again.  "I don't think that stealing over ten billion dollars is legal, do you?"  The commander spluttered.  "That's what this resident is worth.  She was his housekeeper and acted in collusion with his conservator.  No, he's blind.  He's very competent.

"No, we're talking about Xander Harris.  Look up the file," he said dryly.  The commander did and moaned.  Wolfe had gotten permission to add to it about the death threats, which were now prominently mentioned, and about the attacks in Miami.  "Do you really think I want to leave him alone since she has been with him for over ten years of lying to him?" he asked quietly.  "I'm staying here.  Thank you."  He hung up and tossed the phone back.  "Have a good shift, Sergeant."

"You have a better night too, sir."  He got into his cruiser and drove off.

Mack went back to looking over the kitchen.  He had no idea where the kid's money was.  His hacker friend couldn't find it either.  Maybe Blair knew a better one?  His phone beeped with an account number.  He called Danny Williams to read it to him.  "What's that?" he asked.  He looked it up.  "Banking is good.  His conservator closed his accounts totally and Gretchen was with him as an assignment.  Bed.  I had him nap," he said quietly, walking back outside.  "Where is it?"  He nodded.  "Can we get it back?  Yeah, I talked to them already.  Thanks, man.  Here.  Gretchen was doing something that smelled like rat poison."  He hung up and went back to cleaning up in there.  Maybe Xander needed a real change.  He called Father Philip to warn him as well.

***

Sam Winchester made it through Customs in England, getting met by someone holding a sign with his name on it.  He nodded cautiously at them.  "Who sent you?"

"Precept Rayne said to give you his greetings, sir."

Sam grinned.  "Thank you."  He followed him out to the car.  Anyanka had shown up to tell him what D'Hoffryn had done for his swearing in.  So they had good plans until something happened. Not all of the watchers had been stunned into accepting it.  The ones outside the building hadn't been.  He was expecting a fight from them.  Cordelia faded in next to him.  He smiled at her.  "Good evening, Messenger Chase."

She pinched him on the cheek.  "You have very nice manners, Sam.  Why are you with a watcher?"

"I was waiting for the trap to be sprung," he said happily.  He also pulled his gun.  Anyanka had given him a way to hide it from everything, even being felt during a pat down.  One person had seen it but he had seen his name and shuddered so apparently he had heard.  "How's everyone else?"

"Agents rushed in today to arrest Rosenburg.  She had been being paid on the side for years to be Wolfram and Hart's pet hacker."  He nodded once.  She grinned.  "Apparently she hacked into a great many things and that hotty general said he'd had enough."

"They hit Harris again?"

"His own people did.  So he's in a royally pissy mood too.  Between that and his housekeeper he's in the same sort of mood he was when he was first blinded.  If they hadn't gotten his accounts so thoroughly they could send him to Boston and Father Philip to calm him down.  Since we can't and his phone's dead, we can't get him to calm down.  Not that I blame him.  If I had the authority I'd send him to Boston myself.  Philip will hopefully be able to talk him out of destroying a good chunk of people this time."

"Was he always that way?" he asked.

"No.  Xander used to be the most giving, nice, goofy, loyal guy there was.  The girls decided he needed to be sent away for his own good.  Kept saying he had to be protected because he was helpless."

"I heard some of that."

"He avoids those two because that was light shooting back at them.  Back when it happened he nearly talked someone into taking him home so he could talk to them."  Sam shivered.  "Yeah, we couldn't allow that.  He would've destroyed *everything* in town."  She patted him on the hand.  "You know what you're to do?"  He nodded.  "Good boy, Sam."  She smiled at him.  "You'll do fine.  That's why the Powers nominated you."  She winked and settled in for the ride.  "At least it's a pretty country once you get outside all the smog in London."

"It is.  Like a lot of movies," he said.  "Our midwest isn't quite like this, it's more productive than just large fields of grass."

She smiled.  "It probably was at one time."  They made it to the Council's main building and they got out.  The driver was grumbling but yay.  She smiled at him.  "I'm the Messenger for the Powers That Be, buddy.  Be more respectful of my magnificence since you can't even *hope* to get something as good as I am."

Sam looked at the door and opened it.  People inside started to break free of the sleep spell.  He walked past them to the special room in the center of the underground library.  They had gotten him a map.  He did get lost once but that was fine.  He found a sword.  He bled on the stone obelisk in there, chanting the words that showed up as he had been told to do.  All around the building a gong sounded.  Those who were awake looked scared.  Sam strolled back, sword in hand.  He let Cordelia lead him to the office, smiling at his receptionist.  "Hi, Sam Winchester."  She whimpered.

"It'll be okay.  Even the Powers like it," Cordelia assured her.  She opened the door and Sam strode in, pulling the former head of the council out of his seat and putting him on the floor.  "He'll wake up last," she said smugly.

"Wonderful.  They can arrest him for setting contracts on people's lives for all I care."  He sat down and the desk changed.  Everything he touched changed to suit his own tastes.  He got up and did the rest of the office.  "I like this a lot more than decorating."  She cackled.

Someone stomped in.  "Who're you, boy?"

Sam looked at him.  "Sam Winchester.  I was appointed head of the Council."

"You're not one of us."

"No, but my father's a hunter, so's my brother."  The guy's sneer got worse.  Cordelia snapped a few times for attention.  "She said so."

"You're that Chase girl," one realized.  She smirked and nodded.  "What are *you* doing here?"

Whistler showed up in a loud clap of thunder.  Not his usual style but sometimes you had to be official.  "Shut up."  They gasped.  "Sam is our choice to head the Council since you've gotten darker than Wolfram and Hart was."  He stared around then at Sam, who grinned and patted another bookshelf to change it.  "Not bad taste, kid.  You ready for your first called job?"

"Is it having Travers arrested for setting contracts?  Oh, and how do I buy those bottles from Xander?"

"I'll arrange that," his secretary said quietly.  He smiled and put them on the side of his desk.  She stared then at him.  "He only has three left?"

"We're only buying three.  The US military has two.  He still has one though and I'm told he's in an absolutely foul mood at the moment."  He grinned.  "For right now, I want a sit rep from everyone, every single research topic and all that.  That way I can see where we're already going against rules.  You're Whistler, right?" he asked the new demon, who nodded with a smirk.  "What did they need me to do?"

"Well, first, present the sword to the Queen," he said dryly.  Sam grinned.  "And second, the Mathiason project has got to go."

"Yeah, not really a good idea to summon more demons to this plane," Cordelia said dryly.

The watchers standing around nodded.  "I guess I'll get that with the sit rep," Sam said with a smile.  "If I don't get one from everyone within a day, I'm firing whoever I haven't personally talked to."

"Our families...."

"Fell off the railroad tracks," Cordelia told her.  "Down into the ravines of the dark."

"That's nearly poetic," Whistler told her.

She grinned.  "I'm not much of one but it fits.  They can climb out of them if they want."  She stared at them.  "The Powers said it's sad when the vengeance demons have to help them straighten out something that should be one of their strongest weapons for the light."  She faded out.

Whistler looked at Sam.  "She'll be calling for an interview soon.  Present her with the sword, Sam."

"Yes, Whistler."

"Good boy and you don't bark like Harris does," he sighed, disappearing.

Sam clapped his hands together with a smile.  "Also, you should all know that I'm a fantastic shot myself.  My father drilled guns into me at a very young age.  Being a hunter is like that."  A few moaned.  "I believe I asked for a sit rep.  Start with that project.  Within an hour."  They stomped off.  When a few had shown up within that hour, mostly because they didn't want to piss off the new head of the Council, he was really pleased.  The rest, Sam took the sword to talk to people and make new friends.  He was pretty good at making new friends.

Xander walked into the church, around the nun that was swatting two guys and chastising them that smoking was against God's laws because it desecrated the temple of their bodies.  He knew she was a mean nun.  She hated him for some reason he wasn't sure of so he stayed far away from her.  He heard Philip talking and listened, then decided to interrupt.  "I told him you were retired," he said, realizing Philip was upset.

"He did, many times," John Winchester agreed.  "Harris."

"Hey."  He flopped down with a sigh.  The nun came over to yell at him.  He glared.  "Sister, he's going to have to talk me out of killing about six people.  Which is nicer than his usual 'don't destroy humanity' talk but I doubt I need this shit today since all but one of the ones I want to kill is female."  She gasped.  "Just...  Please?  Go be female elsewhere, where it's safer?"  She huffed off.

"She's a stubborn Irish lady from the back country," Philip chastised.

"I know.  She got on me for eating Twinkies and you yelled at me when I offered to substitute the snack cake goodness with a dick instead because she was complaining it was a gay sex metaphor."  Philip smiled and patted him on the head.  "I bummed money to come get some common sense and calmness pounded in again.  Mostly because I tried Blair for that and Blair went on a 'hell no' fit in two languages."

Philip stared at him.  "You have money."

"Had."

"Why?" John asked.

"Conservator, Gretchen, Willow."

"I can deal with Rosenburg for you," he offered.  "And the two others too."

"My former conservator is a human.  He filed papers to stay on as my conservator when I fired him.  I gave the judge the evidence Robbery had gotten and the judge said that was tragic and clearly a mistake, but almost let him stay before I said I was going to move out of the country to get away from them.  Willow showed up there to get away from agents."  He smiled.  "He was not happy that I shot her in the courtroom; the bailiff nearly had a heart attack.  Though she was attacking me with a sacrificial dagger at the time.  So, Philip, can you go over that meditation crap with me again?"

"Definitely, I seem to need some myself.  Is he in jail?"

"On bond."

"Gretchen?" he asked.

Xander let out a bitter snort.  "I was an *assignment*."

Philip growled.  "I'll do penance for my temper," he told the staring nun.  "His helpers just robbed him blind."

Xander looked back there then at John.  "That's one of the spirits that's been bothering him.  I can feel her chilly self."

John looked at her then at Philip.  "What have you done to help her move on, Father?"

"I've tried all the exorcisms I know."

John shook his head.  "Spirits like that you have to salt and burn.  That makes them move on unless they're tied for multiple reasons or have a *really* good reason to hang around like watching over their kids."

"No, she died here in the church hiding from her boyfriend that beat her because she was pregnant," he admitted quietly.

"Then it's kinder to help her move on."  He looked at her.  "Show me your grave later, ma'am, and I'll help you move on."  She smiled and patted Xander on the head before fading off.  He looked at the kid.  "I think you're starting to glow."

"I have a little tiny bit of latent magic," he said dryly.  "And the remains of my hellmouth taint.  Or else it's Willow or someone."  Philip got things and came over to do a protection over Xander.  It cut the glow.  Winchester did another with him and the glowing faded.  Xander sighed.  "Can't I go on a rampage now?"

"I won't tell you no about that," Winchester reminded him.  "I'd have burned Rosenburg in Colorado Springs if Summers didn't need her."

"I about did that once in my first year in Hawaii.  Gretchen told me it was wrong."

"It may be," Philip admitted.  He sat down beside the boy and gave him a hug, letting Xander lean on him.  "We'll get it back."

"Sammy's supposed to be paying him for the new bottles the Council bought," John said.

Xander grinned.  "D'Hoffryn and the Powers agreed that John's son Sam is going to head the Council.  Derek's met him and appreciates his viewpoints and all that too."

"Wonderful."  He gave him a squeeze and let him go.  "We'll work on it.  Are you local?"

"Yeah, I bummed enough to get out here."  His phone beeped.  "Hmm, the curse is gone again or it's someone magical.  Of course, the vocal feature won't work."  John took it to read and growled, typing something back.  "Willow?"

"Lawyer."

"Mine?"

"Yup.  Said you could have it back if you gave up the other bottle."

"You know, he's got to be the last Wolfram and Hart lawyer left on this plane."

"Two here local," Philip corrected.  "One in LA that I've heard."

"Gunn got him the other day for trying to attack Fred.  I heard he staked him even though he wasn't a vamp.  Fred got him off charges by telling the officer why, who he was, and what he wanted to do to her.  The officer said it was self-defense."  He smirked.  "I can deal with the two locally.  Hell's lawyers need to be on another plane of existence."

Philip patted him.  "I know," he said, his Irish accent stronger today because he was still pissed at the people around Xander.  "We need to get it back faster."

"Steve knows once I get it back I'll pay him back."  He slumped down some.  "I can hear your Cardinal."

Philip rolled his eyes.  "He'll live, Xander."  He patted him on the head.  "Are you sure you can get those three to move on kindly?"

"They may panic for a moment while they're going up but otherwise I definitely can."  He smiled at the younger man.  "Xander told me repeatedly you were retired but good with languages."

"I am.  I even taught them for a bit.  Just straight Latin?"

"I'm good with Latin, though I've run into some obscure texts recently.  My son Dean ran into something that he thinks may be something ancient since it's not modern as far as anyone he knows can tell."  He showed him the picture Dean had emailed him of a page.

Philip looked at it.  "That’s Ancient Sumerian."

Xander patted him.  "Is it the demon or the human version?"

"Demon I believe by the side marks.  Where did he find this?"

"A local library outside Peoria."

Philip smiled.  "Things like this show up in the strangest places at times.  I'd like to look at it."

"I'll have him swing by this way.  Dean can use the same 'don't be a slut, be a better boy' talks that Harris here needs."

"I need a new date, a new housekeeper, a new lawyer, and possibly a bodyguard to go 'wow, your temper's really bad again'," Xander quipped.  "And maybe a new house.  The other reason I had to come out?  Gretchen was cooking up something with rat poison and the whole house stinks of it."

"The puppies you said you had?" John asked.

"Melusia moved them for me.  For some reason he couldn't move me this time.  I think it was another Rosenburgian thing.  You know, we should start using her as an adjective."  He nudged Philip and tipped his head slightly.

John Winchester glanced and groaned.  "Your luck's bad," he hissed.

"Clearly."  He turned his head to look at the man he could feel staring.  "I'm letting Father Philip remind me that multiple homicides in very messy manners are against everyone's good will," he said dryly.

"You're around those demon sorts."

Xander sniffed.  "You're a quarter demon yourself.  I'm a born and bred hellmouth baby.  Get over it."  The cardinal gasped.  Xander grinned.  "Hi.  Yes.  And very pissed off at certain beings.  So can Father Philip please finish calming me down now?"

"Definitely."  He walked off shaking his head.

Xander tipped his head to the side.  "Hi, Faith."

"Hi, Boytoy."  She walked up behind him and gave him a hug around the head, hissing in his ear.

"Yeah, I know."  He grinned at her.  "Philip, let me go spill blood outside your church so you can use it in protection rites."  He got up and snapped the cane open, walking out with Faith.  He heard the bitches complaining and stared at one.  "So, we meet again, Witch."  Buffy flinched and backed off shaking her head.  "Buffy, I can smell you.  Just get out of the way."

"She wanted to apologize."

"She still needs to give me back my money too.  And take off all the spells she's done on me.  All that."

"I..." Willow said.  Xander glared and she shrank back.  "I was possessed."

"This morning?  Really?  Though, obviously a nice healing spell."  Buffy gasped, backing away.  Faith got out of the way too.  "Ladies, shoo.  I believe I need to have a discussion with my former best friend."

Philip came out and threw holy water on her, making her scream and wiggle.  "Clearly unholy."

"Philip, I've seen your holy water burn virginal babies," Xander said dryly.

"That's strong," John said from behind Xander.  "Rosenburg, didn't I warn you?"

"I was possessed!" she shouted.

"When you attacked him earlier?" Philip asked.

"That wasn't me!"

"Buffy, if you're still nearby, can you please check her side for us?"  She came over and checked then winced and let John Winchester see it.  "Gunshot wound?"

"Something that was pretty deep but it's mostly healed."  She got out of the way when Faith pulled her.  A cop car pulled up and Buffy went to tell him to stay out of the way too.  "She stole from the blind guy who used to be her best friend," she told him.  "She attacked him earlier and dragged us to help her this time but she's clearly going to attack him again.  Please let the priest give last rites?"

The cop nodded.  "I saw you at that thing."

She smiled.  "I'm a slayer.  This is my sister slayer Faith.  She's a local girl."

The cop nodded.  "Thanks, ladies.  Father, can I arrest her yet?  I hate cleaning up body parts."

"No, we have some work to do on her yet," he called.  He came down the stairs.  "Xander, let me make sure she's not possessed," he ordered.  He walked her to the graveyard beside the church.  John followed.  Xander strolled after them.

Buffy looked at Faith.  "If his holy water burns her, what would it do to someone like Spike?"

"He'd be toast," Faith said.  "X said his holy water burned babies when they weren't pure enough."  They both winced at Willow screaming about the burning holy water.  "Ow."  They looked that way at the sound of a gunshot.  "Do we have to clean up a mess?" she called.

"No," John called.  "She summoned something.  It's already dead.  It didn't like the consecrated ground either.  Stay, ladies."

"Yup, don't want to see that," Buffy agreed.  She looked at Faith.  "I thought Xander had a temper."

Faith nodded.  "He's back to smiling in pleasure at the destruction, B.  There's going to be a funeral."

"My conservator's," Xander called.  "Maybe my former housekeeper for helping her steal from me again."

"All of it?" Buffy asked.

"Yup.  Please go check my house?  My alarm system just called me."  They ran for a cab and went there.  The officer followed in case there was a problem.  Xander listened when Buffy called him a few minutes later.  "No, I'm not selling the house," he told the person.  "That person acted wrongly in my interests and I've since fired him.  No, he was my conservator because I'm blind, ma'am.  I'm not selling my house here or in Hawaii.  Please do.  No, he's on bond for stealing ten billion dollars from me," he admitted.  She babbled.  "I know that but one of the priests in the local parish is a friend so I bought it to be near him.  Thank you for checking though.  If I do decide to sell the house I'll call you."  He smiled.  "You have a better day, ma'am."  He hung up and John took the phone before he could throw it.  "Thank you.  Can you please call Steve?"

John found the number and dialed from his own phone.  "Detective McGarrett?  Oh, Detective Williams.  I'm John Winchester.  I'm a demon hunter and I'm here with Xander, who just had to talk to a realtor about the former lawyer scum trying to sell his Boston house.  Thank you, please.  No, I took his phone before he threw it.  Dealing with Rosenburg," he said when she let out another scream.

"A priest is questioning her under holy water.  No, supposedly human," he admitted, walking off.  "Is his house there in danger?"  He nodded once at that.  "Well, my son's the new head of the Watchers Council," he admitted.  That got a cheer.  "He's buying three of the bottles from the kid.  So he'll be able to handle that sometime soon.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "He'll call Wolfe, who has your power of attorney at the moment?"  Xander nodded.  "The judge knows?"

"Yes.  He signed the forms to let Mack handle things until I could hire someone.  That way he could handle anything related to the investigation."  Xander looked toward where he was standing.  "Mack went on a swearing rant about it but he understood why."

"We'll help you find someone, kid.  Maybe another hunter's kid is a lawyer."  He patted him on the arm.  "It'll be okay."

"I wouldn't care if we just had a hired housekeeper and then a helper.  That might be easier to find.  I wouldn't get so attached this time."

"It won't matter!  You won't have a house to go home to!" Willow shouted.

Xander turned to look at her.  "Really?  Why is that?  I've already countered the 'I'm selling' crap."

"It's gone!" she sneered.  "With those *dogs* too!  They're unholy and unnatural."

"The dogs are here, Willow."

"I sent them back."

"Melusia?" Xander called.  He appeared, staring at him.  "Are the puppies all right?  Willow threatened them."  The dog snorted and patted him on the hand, getting petted.  He went back to check on them.  He popped back to the house, scaring Steve nearly to death.  He barked and sat, wagging his tail with a doggy grin.

Steve looked down at him.  "Are the puppies all right?" he demanded.  The hellhound barked and patted him too.  Steve grinned and petted it.  "Thanks, Melusia.  Is Xander in Boston?"  The dog wagged his tail.  "Good!  Have him stay there for a few days, all right?"  The dog barked and went back to his master.  Steve sighed in relief.  The fire department had been up the street with a barbequing accident when this house had went up so they had gotten to it almost immediately.  It had been hard to put out but eventually it had.  The crew chief came over to stare at him.  "The owner's at his house in Boston," he said quietly.  "We've known about a few death threats and it looks like his helpers turned on him."

"We didn't see any bodies, human or pets."

"Thank God, and thank your people for him?"

The crew chief smiled and nodded.  "Any idea who set that?"

He texted Danny, who said Xander thought it was Rosenburg but Father Philip had her.  He looked at him.  "There's about five possibles, we think one's more probable but she's left the island.  I'll be calling someone out where she is to question her and make her miserable until we can arrest her.  You're sure it was set?"  The crew chief nodded.  "Then I'm really glad you guys were fighting the evil barbeque."

The crew chief smiled.  "I'm just glad we got it before his garage went up."  He gave him a pointed look.  "There's a bunker in there?"

"He dated an arms dealer but it's really mine now."  He smiled.  "Just in case something huge happens."  The fire chief laughed and nodded, going back to tell his guys they could go when they were done.   Steve called Xander's phone.  Out of service message again.  He called the number that had called his partner.  "This is Detective McGarrett.  If you're near that psychotic redhead, she's under arrest for arson."  He listened to her screaming.  "That'll work.  Which precinct is near there?  I'll have her picked up when the priest and Xander are done playing with her."

He made a mental note.  "Thank you.  No, we're working on it now because two of his former dates pretended to be Robbery detectives to help.  And they were helping actually.  So we took it over as a favor to make them go away.  Thank you, Mr. Winchester."  He hung up and called the office.  "Get the 23rd precinct in Boston to Father Philip's church, wherever that is, to arrest the psychotic redhead.  They're torturing her and that's our fun."  He hung up.  He looked over at Mack Wolfe when he pulled up.  "Thankfully they were up the street."

"Thank God," he muttered.  "Much damage?"

"Some.  They got it pretty quickly but she set it."

"Gretchen?"

"Redhead."

"I'm going to kill her."

"There's a priest doing an exorcism right now.  We might have to get behind the kid."

"Possibly."  He leaned against his car.  "I have his power of attorney.  The judge said so until he could appoint someone decent."

"I'm asking some I know.  Most of them do criminal law, not inheritance and trust law."

"I don't think he much cares," Mack admitted.  "His last email said we could hire him someone from a good company for a housekeeper so he didn't get attached but he'd still need a helper sort.  He also sounded depressed."

"That's why I sent him to the priest in Boston."  He spotted someone watching and nodded at them.  They nodded back.  He strolled over there.  "You're not dangerous enough to be the kid's type so who're you?"

"I'm SGC," he admitted quietly, glancing around then at the detective.  "The ones who got you to the battle."

"Wonderful.  Problems?"

"I saw the fire and wanted to check on Harris for the general."

"He's in Boston."

"Good!"  He looked around again then at him.  "Is there anything we can help with?"

"No, we're going to get Rosenburg from Boston as well."  The soldier smiled. "Tell him I said thank you for worrying about the kid.  He needs a new conservator, housekeeper, and helper."

"I'll do that.  See if the general knows anyone."  He shook his hand and left, walking off talking to the general.  "Sir, Doctor Peter Grodin, one of the city's science corps."  He listened.  "Hawaii.  I did but the fire department were thankfully very quick to put out his house.  The detective who we pulled for the battle said that he needs a new conservator, housekeeper, and helper sort.  Please if you hear of one.  He said he's in Boston."  He smiled.  "It's good to have friends you can trust.  He needs someone like Sheppard, who can make sure he's good all the time.  Thank you, sir."  He hung up and went back on vacation.  No wonder the general had worried about the guy.

***

Xander looked up from his sulking in the park with the puppies when someone sat next to him.  He sniffed and looked at their position.  "Hi, Mack."

"Xander."  He patted the puppy that barked at him.  Then the rest when they got greedy.  "Hi, dogs."  They settled down well for them.  "Their training's coming along really well."  Xander nodded.  "We have your money back."

"All of it?"

"Yup.  The stuff from the Council is coming over tomorrow.  Between McGarrett and that general you've got a new conservator.  He's former JAG.  He retired to Hawaii and does minimal contract work to keep his hand in and for kicks.  He has his own trust fund set up so he can handle yours the same."  Xander nodded at that.  "He's scared to death that O'Neill will kill him if he screws up."  Xander grinned a bit.  "He's hired a housekeeper from a good company once you have a house."

"Can it be fixed?"

"The insurance company said no.   If you sell it and they don't realize, they could be attacked."

"She did give them my old address in San Diego.  It got seven people killed."

"The insurance company is worried about that and the land's worth more than the house really."  Xander nodded once.  "You have two good choices.  Both single level.  One's really expensive but in a gated community.  One's not but it's got great views for you to hear."

"Would I sound woosy if I said the gated community sounds safer?"

"Not in the least.  I'll warn you it's heart attack inducing expensive."

"Hawaii real estate is all outrageous because it's an island.  Single level houses especially."

"That one's twenty-three mil."

Xander blinked a few times.  "Thank you for warning me."

Mack patted him on the arm.  "The other's just under ten mil."  Xander winced.  "That one's built like an island house with the large windows up at the roofline to let in winds.  It's got a drop off onto the ocean.  You're right on it.  The other's more Asian inspired and it's got some neat features.  Including a walking path on a shallow water pool with stepping stones."

"The dogs will always be wet."

"The less expensive has less grass by about an acre."

"Fussy things?"

"In-ground pools in both.  One has a spa.  That one's a bit of a split level so a few stairs.  The other's a single story.  The more expensive one has a detached cottage for someone staying with you."  Xander nodded.  "So whichever you want I can do.  Though I did tell them that you're blind.  The realtor thought a great view like they had might be wasted but I said you liked to listen to the ocean."

"I do like the ocean."  He considered it.  "I don't want to flaunt things or if they steal again I don't want to get in trouble with taxes and things, Mack."

"I know, kid, and you won't be.  If they try it again, that retired JAG guy will rip out their throats.  I told him all about all that stuff."  Xander grinned and wiggled some.  "Let me know which one you like more.  I can get everything signed today."

"Will I like one more?"

"I like the really expensive one.  It's got nice architectural details and the stepping stone wading pool is pretty.  It's got some nice landscaping and you've got nearly two acres."  Xander nodded.  "It's also safer.  This is one place where throwing money at a problem is a good thing."

"Is the other more a housey sort of house?"

"No.  Both rich people houses.  The only house sort of houses I saw were two or more stories."

"Which means more falling risk for me."  Mack nodded.  "Then I guess I like the sound of the expensive one," he decided.

"It's a great choice.  I'll send her the paperwork in a few minutes."  He stood up.  "Lunch?"

"The pet friendly places hate the puppies.  They think they're not normal."

"Two aren't usual dog colors but none have their daddy's ruff or anything.  One's got a slightly barbed tail too."  He hauled him up.  "We can order and take it to Father Philip."

"He might like that."  They walked off, the dogs surrounding them like they should.  "I've been thinking about what I should be doing again."

"Father Philip thinks you need a job?"

"Or at least a volunteering spot."

"I'm thinking the general has something up his sleeve about training the soldiers to hunt."  Xander grimaced.  "You can help a lot with that.  You know a lot that you don't realize."

"Giles would have a 'dear lord' glasses cleaning fit."

"I don't care, Xander.  He's an asshole."

"Point," he agreed.  "Buffy and Faith are local."

"I liked Faith when she showed up to check on you last month."  He led him to his rental car and got them all inside.  The puppies laid down in the backseat.   He got in to drive while Xander fumbled with the seat belt.  Mack helped then drove them off.  "What is Father Philip doing?"

"Coaching a little kids' soccer league team."

"Then maybe we'll bring water and juice," he decided.  "It'd bankrupt you to feed a hoard of hungry kids."  Xander grinned.  Melusia appeared.  "Sit," Mack ordered.  "Before you make us wreck, dog."  It cuddled in Xander's lap.  It was strange looking but it worked and the kid was liking the cuddling.  Mack stopped to pick up some cold water and juice jugs then went to the church he had printed directions to.  The priest was in the attached school's playground with a bunch of kids jumping around him while he taught them new words in Latin.

He and Xander got out, walking over with all the dogs.  Xander threw one out and one girl squealed and bounced.  "I know that one!  It means fun!"  The kids cheered.

"Good job," Xander agreed.  He and Mack handed Philip the jugs, letting him pour them out for the kids.  A few of the puppies went to sniff.  "They're future seeing eye dogs so please be gentle with them."  The kids cooed over the dogs, though a few sneezed.  Philip got them away from the puppies.  The rest were more than happy to have visitors.  Then they ran off.  "I thought you were coaching soccer."

"In an hour.  I'm filling in for the after-school center."  He smiled at Mack, shaking his hand.  "Thank you."

"Being that young is hard work, Philip."  He smiled at the nun that came out looking pissed off.  "Melusia, quit stalking the kid."  He came racing back and sat down properly beside Xander.  "Good boy."  He counted noses.  "Xander, we're missing one."

"She's digging in the sand box," one little boy called.

Philip went to check.  He knew that Xander had taught the dogs to track certain scents.  He also knew that they were half hellhound.  He spotted the blood and petted the dog.  "Good boy.  Go back to daddy."  The puppy barked and got petted then ran back when Xander whistled.  Philip covered it up with his coat.  "Let's leave the sand alone for now.  He found a nasty spot we'll have to dig out."  The kids accepted it and went to play some more.  Philip walked back.  "Fresh blood," he told the nun.

"I'll see if the surveillance cameras can tell us why, Father Philip.  Your friends?"

"This is Mack Wolfe, he was a homicide detective in Hawaii, and this is Xander Harris.  We've been friends now for over a decade."

"I bring big things to Philip like wanting to stop me from killing someone who stole from me," Xander said.

"That's always a wise thing.  Thank you for the drinks, gentlemen."  She walked back inside to rerun the tape.  She did check those two, realizing the one in sunglasses had been using a white cane.  She hadn't thought him blind, just sun phobic.  Interesting and reasonable.  Father Philip had a good, soft heart for those who needed help.  She found the reason for the blood and had the groundskeeper go dig that up.  The poor girl had her first cycle and had been crying in the sand box apparently.

***

Xander was let into a private dining room and paused, sniffing around.  "What's that?" he asked.

"Grilling meat the old fashioned way," Wolfe said.  "Over hickory wood.  You can't do that with your grill so you don't recognize it."  He led him to a table, smiling at the man there.  "General."

"Wolfe. Harris."  He waited until they sat down.  "Boys, this is David Sheppard.  He's John's little brother."

"Hi," Xander said, holding out a hand.

"Good evening."  He shook both their hands.  "The general wanted me to help your conservator and to give you my own helper as yours, Mr. Harris."

"I don't want to inconvenience anyone."

"You're not.  He needs to go somewhere warmer.  He's got a light case of COPD, emphysema.  His doctors said that Hawaii would be wonderful for him.  He's used to being my personal assistant."   Xander grinned and wiggled a bit.  "He is also bodyguard trained.  He's been through all the civilian training the FBI and Langley gives for higher end bodyguards."  Xander nodded at that.  "He cannot use a sword but he's more than willing to learn if you want to spar with him."

"I should.  I'm seriously out of practice."

David grinned.  "That happens at times."  He looked at Wolfe.  "How's his house look?"

"A new one thanks to Rosenburg.  Gated community.  All one level.  Just under two acres.  A bit Asian inspired.  The dogs are going to go nuts over the shallow pool with big stepping squares in it."

The general smiled.  "That's probably a good thing.  Is his old one all right?"

"As far as I've heard, yes," Mack said.  "Rosenburg got extradited back to Hawaii to face arson charges.  The US Marshals went out to gather her for the ones you had her arrested on."

"What did she do beyond to me?" Xander asked.

"A lot, kid.  She was hacking for Wolfram and Hart for years."  Xander grimaced.  "She's broken into so many classified files I can't even count that high."

"Damn."

"Yup, so we had to.  We did manage to get all yours back.  The conservator you have now is really good.  He set it up in an iron clad trust.  It's got magical curses applied if you steal it.  Winchester's buying of those bottles went to the same place."  Xander nodded at that.  "It's pretty much idiot proof and so simple even a chimp can use it unless he tries to steal from you."  Xander grinned at him.  "The new assistant can pay bills and stuff.  Your new housekeeper can be taught how you like things so you can find them."

"The kitchen's huge," Mack told him.  "The whole house is over ten thousand square feet."  Xander moaned.  "There's a few types of flooring but no carpet.  The land's on a gentle slope but it has views of Diamond Head and you can sit by the pool and see the ocean like you're right on it."  Xander grinned.  "The hot tub is at the end of the pool.  So it'll be okay, even if the dogs are always in the pool or the little shallow water that you walk across."

"I'll be in the pool a lot too.  I like to swim, even after the mermaid stuff."

"Our docs, not Colonel Carter but the actual physician doctors, wanted to know if they could study that," O'Neill said.

Xander considered it then looked at Mack, who shook his head quickly.  "We wouldn't care about that but there's other things," Mack said.  "If it leaks it'll become a security nightmare, General."

"Chin joked about using mine to draw someone," Xander quipped.  "Kono was supposedly really mean when she beat her cousin for that."

"Are we thinking there's people who will *want* it?" the general asked.  Mack and Xander both nodded.  The general winced and Mack nodded harder.  "Okay."

"When he was in Miami we had a new test run because the lawyers used a biological attack a few times," Mack said.  "I'm told the head of the crime lab down there emailed McGarrett the results and then stared at them in horrified awe."  Xander nodded quickly, finding his ice water to take a sip.

David cleared his throat.  "How did they keep getting away with that?"

"They were government contractors," General O'Neill said dryly.  "We found out later that their bio warfare lab in the building in LA was shut down a few months before we had to blow it up."

"Fred shut it down.  They gave it to Angel for a bit."  Xander grinned.  "It was another plan and a 'here, we created a mess we can't handle' thing."

"Charming," O'Neill said sarcastically.  Xander smirked at him.  "You guys lived an insane life.  Now we're here to help calm that down some."

"I can only hope so," Xander said.  The waiter came in and Xander ordered something soup-ish.

Mack looked at him.  "You almost always order soup at the fancy places."

"I know I can eat soup and not get it all over me and the table or anything else.  I figure it's more polite."

"We'll go over that," Mack assured him.

"I can do it at home but I still drop things and have to clean pasta off my shirt all the time."

"So do I," the general told him.

"I can't eat shirtless here so I can't tell when I drop stuff."  He smiled.  "If you can help it, never get blinded.  It's a huge set of skills you have to relearn."

"I've had to wear bandages in the past for a few weeks on end," Jack said.  "I remember real well how hard it was, kid."  Xander relaxed again.  "Order a steak."

"I can't find the pieces to cut it and I hate having my meat cut for me like I'm a little kid.  If I was at home I would but I'm trying to use the company manners I only learned ten years ago."

"I get that," David assured him, smiling at the young man.  "Their bisque is excellent and so good you'll want seconds anyway.  I usually do."  Xander grinned at him.  "How's finding him a new housekeeper coming?"

"We're going through a bonded, local company," Mack said.  "They know he's going to be particular but not too picky about how they clean.  They know he has the puppies he's working with.  When do they get tested anyway, Xander?"

"Next month.  Aria's doing it."

"Then maybe you'll get one so Melusia can go to whoever he's training for?"  Xander nodded.  "That's what I thought you said was going on."

"I've heard one of the top princes, one of the biggest of the high, had a son that was born blind.  I'm assuming he'll go to him."

"Probably, yeah."  He patted him on the arm.  "They'll love those puppies to death."

"They will.  I did when I got mine."  Jack smiled at him.  Xander grinned.  "It meant I got out of the house more often."

"I'm sure it does," Jack agreed.  "It also kept you safer."

Their dinners were brought in with a note from someone for Mack, who took out his phone to text them.  That got one back.  "Xander, everything's all set up with the bank.  The new twelve billion is there."  Xander nodded.  "Your new bank cards and things are coming.  The bank is still very understanding."

"They've known about the threats and the hackers before.  There's a huge set of notes about things in there."

"I remember handing them some of the information," Mack said.  He sent back one more and put his phone up.  "Okay, we're set to go back in a week and a half."  Xander nodded, sniffing his food.  He moved the bowl so it was easier for him and sniffed again.  He took a bite and grimaced.

"May I?" David asked.  "I know how it's supposed to taste."

"Please."

David took a bite and spit it back out.  "It tastes suspiciously bitter, General."

Jack took a bite then nodded.  "That's a poison."  David took a drink of water and rinsed his mouth out to spit it in another glass.  Xander did the same.  The waiter got called back with the manager.  Jack told the manager to take a bite and he went pale, shaking his head.  Mack had already sent a message to someone so cops were on the way.  They got there when they were arguing.  Xander went to the ER to have his stomach pumped just in case.  David went to be watched over and Jack got to watch over both of them while Mack helped the local PD to see which threat it was.

The demon that wanted Philip was not pleased to meet John Winchester but he did squeal very much like a fangirl when the holy water hit him.

***

Xander made it back home, still looking a bit ill, and came off the plane into way too much quiet.  He blinked, turning his head around.  Even in the walkway tunnel from the plane to the gate there was usually more noise.  He paused, waiting on Mack to join him.  Mack was frowning.  "Way too quiet," he said quietly.

"It is."  They walked out together, finding no people in the gate area.  "Was the airport shut down?"

"Yes, sir.  They've just cleared the suspicious person who was having a seizure.  Someone panicked and thought it was some sort of biological assault."

"They can feel like that when you're having one," Xander admitted.  "Are we clear to leave?"

"Yes, sir.  They've cleared everything and there's a shuttle service I can get for you if you need me to."

"I'm with him," Mack said with a smile.  "Thank you though."  She nodded, letting them walk off.  "Next time you get to fly with the dog again."

"That usually takes some pre-planning and some warning ahead," Xander said dryly.  "Most airlines don't really respect those that have problems moving around easily.  I heard one deaf person nearly had to sue about not being able to check in because they had warned ahead but no one could sign.  I usually get harassed by security too.  'Take off the harness and your glasses. You can't have your cane, sir'," he mimicked.

"That's dumb.  Do they have someone to lead you through it?"

"This last time I got patted down because I pointed out I can't not have my cane.  I couldn't see.  They thought I was being a pain in the ass until I threatened to buy the damn airport and fire them all.  By then, an agent who was flying back from vacation stepped in and chewed on them for me and the guy who needed his cane for walking that they were harassing about it."

Mack shook his head.  "They need to train those guys better."

"Half of them are like McDonald's workers, Mack.  They make minimum wage.  You only have to have a high school degree.  If they were serious, they'd be *agents*."

"Good point."  He led them to baggage claim and got Xander's three bags.  Philip had gotten him a few new things so there was a third bag now.  The security guy at the gateway out of baggage claim checked the tags against their tickets and let them leave.  Mack sighed when they got outside.  "We're going to meet the new lawyer first."

Xander yawned and waved a hand.  "Okay.  Can I nap on the way there?"

"For about forty minutes."  Xander pouted.  "I have to pick up your keys too.  Danny Williams has them."  Xander nodded.  They got a cab to go to the lawyer's house.  Xander did indeed nap against his arm.  It was almost sweet and Xander was very cuddly.  He really did have to find him someone nice to date.  Mack paid and got them out, helping Xander out first.  Xander yawned and stretched a little bit.  Mack got their bags and they walked up to the porch.  Xander made it up the stairs with a small tumble.  "He napped on the plane," he told the man waiting on them.

"I'd nap too.  It's a really long flight from the east coast.  I flew in from DC."  He held out a hand.  "I'm Robert, Mr. Harris."

"Xander, please, unless you're a dickhead like my last one."  He held out his hand and the lawyer shook it.  He grinned.  "Mack seems to think you're a good guy."

"I try very hard to be."  He let them into the house.  He knew the boy was going to be cautious.  He would be too after the wreck that had recently happened.  He got them into the living room and went over what Xander had, where he had it, and how things were going to work.  During that, Xander's new assistant Paul showed up.  He and Xander got along cautiously well and it was going to be all right.  They gathered things and called a cab, going to get the keys.  The guys weren't there but they were told to wait in the office since everyone knew Wolfe.

Steve McGarrett stomped into the office and paused.  "You're back."

"I am back."  Xander yawned.  "I nearly used your couch for a nap."

"I've done it a few times when I've been here all night."  He stared at him.  "The puppies?"

"Aria has them to test them for seeing eye dogs."

"Wonderful."  He smiled at Mack.  "Only two of his dates are on the islands."

Wolfe grinned back.  "Six were in Boston and offered to help with the higher, possessing sort of demon that wanted to make Philip sad by poisoning Xander.  John Winchester learned to brush them off pretty fast."

Steve smirked.  "Figures."  Xander grinned.  "You better now?"

"Still a bit pukey but otherwise I only had a bite of the heavy poison.  I'm immune to most of them.  They clearly knew that."

"John handled it."

"I know.  His sort of hunter does."

"Do we have those sort in town?" McGarrett asked.

"Remember Perry?"

"Sort of.  You only saw him a few times since we've known you."

"He was one."

"Huh.  Okay."  He went into his office.  Danny came huffing and stomping in complaining.

"Want your desk chair back so you can sulk?" Xander asked.

Danny gave him a hug.  "Not yet."  He got the keys out, handing them to him.  "There's two keys.  One's to the garage, which is massive, and one to the house."  Xander nodded, feeling both of them.  "I went out last night to check on it for you guys and it's a really sweet house.  I'm going to move into your pool area in a tent."

"Any of the puppies that stay might join you."  He grinned.  "Thanks."

"You're welcome.  Your two dates have been very good recently."

"Are they here to steal?"

"Yes.  Both of them."  He helped Xander up.  "Wolfe, can you get them out there?"

"Yeah, I walked through the house."  He smiled.  "Thanks."

"Remember, my daughter wants one of the puppies that don't pass."

"I will," Xander promised.  He gave Kono a hug.  He had smelled her.  "Hi, Kono."

"Hi, Xander."  She patted him on the back, letting Chin have him for his own hug.  "You guys go home.  We have a new bad guy that Xander hasn't dated causing problems."

"If Wo Fat comes near you, tell us," Danny ordered, staring at Paul, who nodded quickly.  "Guy's climbing our shit list."

"He's nasty," Xander agreed.  "He doesn't smell nice either."  He shrugged.  "I only date those that smell pretty."  He grinned at Kono, who swatted him on the arm.  "Okay, let me go collapse in bed."   That got a few smiles and they walked out together.  Xander nearly fell asleep on Paul on the way there but it was only twenty minutes.  Paul gave him a gentle nudge when they got to the gates.

Mack smiled at the guard.  "Guys, I'm Mack Wolfe.  This is Xander Harris, your new resident.  That is his assistant Paul."

"Sir," he said, nodding at them.  "We've been told about Mr. Harris and the problems he had before.  It will not happen here."  Xander grinned.  "Your house's alarm system is reading as on and the house reads as safe.  Have a good night and I'll bring my usual gate team over tomorrow to meet him so he knows who to run to if he has problems from anyone."

"Thank you," Xander said quietly.

"You're welcome, sir."  He opened the gate and let them in.  He made a note that the guy was pretty young.  Only looked like he was in his late twenties.  They knew he had a seeing eye dog and puppies but they weren't there yet.  They'd expect them soon.

Mack got their things out of the cab and paid for it out of Xander's wallet, like usual, then got them inside.  "Paul, are you taking that detached cottage?"

"I am.  That'll give Xander privacy."

"Bed?" Xander asked in a little boy's voice.  "Right now I don't care if he cuddles.  I like cuddles."

"Bed is this way," Mack said, walking Xander to his bedroom.  Xander hummed and hit the bed with a smile.  He was asleep within seconds.  "I'll help him around later.  Go settle in, Paul.  It'll be a few hours probably."  He nodded and left.  Mack went to rearrange the kitchen.  The new housekeeper was there waiting.  "He's in bed."

"Jet lag I understand very well," she said.  She was Filipino and a bit round, but she seemed happy to Mack.  "How was his former kitchen set up?"

"Glasses next to the fridge, plates next to the stove on the right," he said, showing with his hands how it was set up.  "Forks in the drawer next to the sink."

She looked around.  "We can't really do that here but how about this."  She pointed.  "Glasses here?"

"Most of his are plastic and kind of ugly," Mack said.  "That's a clear glass front.  The one next to it?"  She nodded and they set them in there.  Plates went into a large drawer next to the stove that usually held pots and pans.  They went wherever she wanted.  Forks went into the next drawer over.  That worked and the fridge door opened toward the glasses so he'd get used to that.  "He can help do some cooking.  He used to."

"That's fine."  She smiled.  "I know he's got some independence.  The dogs?"

"They should be back this weekend.  Aria's giving them all a long test as seeing eye dogs."

"That's fine."  She smiled.  "I hope they make it.  I know there's a shortage of them."  Mack nodded.  "They're house trained?"

"Yes.  They're also trained to go out and run back inside immediately."

"Even better.  Less mess for me to clean up.  The floors should be easy to keep clean.  I'll warn him when I mop after the wet pawprints."  Mack grinned.  "Anything he adores eating?  He looked a bit thin."

"A demon in Boston tried to poison him.  He's spent the last week being pukey as he put it."

"So no milk things tonight.  Mac n' cheese?"

"He adores the baked stuff with the crunchy bits.  He's also a big fan of baked fries.  I taught him about fish because he'd never had more than fish sticks before coming to Hawaii.  He grew up pretty lower class so he's used to nearly anything.  We've all extended his food pleasures.  He'll usually try anything new as long as it doesn't smell too sour or foul to him."

"I can do that.  I started a stew in the crock pot and I can make some fries."  She smiled.  "Go rest.  You just flew back too."  He went to nap on a couch.  She got things ready for fries and put them aside until the boy woke up.  He'd probably have the twenty minutes for them to cook before he wanted to eat.

***

Paul smiled when the less tired but rumpled looking young man made his way out of the bedrooms.  "We would've come gotten you."

"I need to learn the house anyway."  He looked around.  "I can smell someone else."

"This is your housekeeper, Xander.  Her name is Myeong Li.  Myeong, this is Xander."

"Pleasure, sir."

"Xander.  I'm not formal."  He shook her hand.  "I smell food.  It's what woke me."  He gave her an impish grin.  "Are you a really good cook?"

"I'm a very good homey cook; I can't cook the fancy, four star meals."

"I only order soup and things at fancy places.  That way I don't make a mess."  His cane helped him find a stool and he sat down at the bar.  "How's the kitchen arranging going?"

"I'll go over it with you after you eat."  She pulled the fries out of the oven and salted them then dished up some and some of the stew.  She put it in front of him.  She got him a spoon.  "Water, juice?"

"Apple juice please?"  She handed him a glass of it.  He sniffed and grinned.  She smiled back but he moaned when he ate.  "Thank you."

"You clearly needed to eat and that's good, hearty food for all the stuff you've got to learn over the next few days."  She patted him on the hand.  "This kitchen is bigger than your last one."

"I can tell.  It nearly echoes in here."  He ate a fry.  "Stove?" he asked with a point toward the warm spot he could feel.

"Wall ovens.  Cooktop's over here," she said, pointing his hand in that direction.  "Eat.  We'll walk you around later."  He nodded, eating another bite.  Paul got his own and sat down to eat too.  "There's a few places with tile that will be slick if I'm mopping so I'll warn you first."

"That'll be appreciated.  I still trip sometimes."

"Xander, I trip and I can see things like rugs," Paul said.  "We'd expect some awkwardness now and then.  Don't apologize for having been in a fight and being blinded."  Xander relaxed.  "Wolfe went to a couch."

"He could use a spare bed," Xander said.

"He was watching TV."

"Oh.  My laptop?"

"In the living room," Myeong told him.  "Eat.  Learn it later."  He nodded and ate.  He was hungry.  She heard Wolfe yelp and went to check on him.  He had been pounced by a dog.  "Is that one a dog he has?"

"Sometimes.  This is Melusia," Mack said, petting him.  "He's been learning how to be a guide dog next to Xander and is the father of the puppies.  He's a hellhound but he's very friendly."

"Did he lick you again?" Xander called.

"Yes.  Pounced too."  He sat up, letting the dog shift and lap him again.  "Calm down.  Xander's up."  Melusia raced to find the human.  Mack followed her back to the kitchen.  "I think he's happy."

"He said he got accepted as that Prince's seeing-eye dog.  I'm very proud I could help you, Melusia.  You're going to be a great seeing-eye dog for him."  He petted him. "Good boy.  Go to your new master."  He smiled.  "Come visit me and the puppies now and then."  Melusia lapped him then disappeared.  He sighed but settled in to eat again.  "He'll come visit."

"I think it's great he learned so much from you," Mack said, patting him on the back.  Xander grinned.  "The puppies are in good range for their final training too."

"They are."  He finished up.  "Can I have some more please, Myeong?"

"Of course.  You could use about five extra pounds to make you cuddly."

"I could use cuddles.  I haven't had cuddles in a while.  I take fix-ups too."

"I doubt she knows anyone dangerous enough for you, Xander."  Mack shook his head.  "Only the dangerous ones like him."

"Aww.  My nephew, Seung, might like him.  He's a soldier."  She got Paul seconds and Mack his own dinner.  "Sit and eat.  That way you can wander around later."  They smiled and did that.  She helped with the tour, finding where Xander needed things and a few places he vowed to get rugs because the floor was chilly.  He called Aria about the puppies.  She brought over the four that hadn't made it.  Xander hugged one.  It was his favorite.

Aria agreed he could train him into a good seeing-eye dog but no one would take him since he looked a bit too much like his hellhound daddy.  Two of the others had that same problem and the last one was way too bouncy.  Mack called someone about the bouncy one and he got an interview for police training.  Xander hugged him too.  Aria giggled but she was happy for them.  She left and took the other dogs to the training center.

Mack called Danny to tell him to bring his daughter out if she wanted a dog.  He loved the mutts but he'd end up breaking their training.  So he'd let her have the spare one and get one from the pound.  The other one could easily go to police training.  He was a great tracker and would scare the crap out of anyone he was chasing.

***

Steve McGarrett looked at his partner's daughter the next morning.  She had chocolate around her mouth from chocolate milk.  She had a very protective dog he recognized next to her, and she had a black eye.  Which was probably why she was with her father this morning.  "Who hit you?"

She pouted.  "Stupid person up the street who hates my dog.  Daddy beat him up."

"Good!  I should help him."  He patted her and the dog on the head.  "You're a good dog.  What did you name him?"

"Xander said he's been calling him Hungry," Danny said from the doorway.  "There was a minister that lives on her street.  He took offense at the half-hellhound."

"You beat him enough to make him refind God?"

"Yup."  He smirked.  "But I have to take today off."

"That's fine.  She's more important."  She grinned.  "We're hopefully going to have a quiet day today."

"Thanks."  He stared at the moping dog.  "What?  You miss the others that much?"  He nuzzled her and she giggled, petting him.  "She can play out back."  She and the dog ran out back to play.  He grinned at his partner.  "She's going to spoil the dog rotten."

"Yup."  He smirked.  "The rest got accepted into service?"

"Wolfe called someone about the bouncy one.  He'll make an excellent patrol dog with how much energy he has."  They shared a smirk.  "So Xander has a dog left."

"Wonderful.  Let me go do paperwork.  Call me next time and I'll come help beat him for hitting her."

"My ex pulled me off him."

Steve smirked.  "Gotta protect the innocent and family.  That's why we do this job."  He got into his car and drove off to go do paperwork.  He hated paperwork but the quiet days made up for all the exciting ones.  He walked in.  "Dano's daughter got the black one with the barbed tail."  They smiled.  "And a black eye from a minister but he handled it."

"Good," Kono said.  "Pity he didn't call for backup."

"That's what I said."

"Now, all we need is to find Xander someone to settle down," Chin quipped with an evil smirk.

"We have a whole list of people he's not allowed to date," Steve said sarcastically.  "We can give it to him later."  The guys smirked back at him.  "Let's do the paperwork so we can go home early."

"I've got most of mine done," Chin bragged.  "What are you doing when you're here all night?"  Steve glared but went into his office.  The rest of them smiled and got to work on the paperwork that annoyed them all.  They'd handle the hell that Xander dating would cause sometime after the hell that the paperwork caused.

The End!